Secular Humanism is an ideology that affirms a naturalistic philosophy.  This philosophy flows through every part of belief from the question of origin to the question of destiny.  This philosophical position supposes that human beings not God is the reason for creation.  The humanistic version of morality begins with a worldview that does not recognize that there is a determining factor that divides between good and evil.  Christianity, on the opposite side, is a worldview that affirms the creator called God.  In Genesis 1:1 KJV, “In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth.  This Christian worldview has an ethical, and moral basis that places a priori knowledge upon the existence of God as creator, sustainer, and the sole reason for the creation and continuation of humankind.  The worldview of secular humanists and Christians are diametrically opposed, and the vast differences can be determined by looking closely at cosmology, anthropology, morality, and destiny.

The Question of Origin

Secular Humanism’s answer to the question of origin is based on an answer apart from the existence of God.  The creation and existence of everything flows from the belief that there is no personal god and everything that exists came into being through natural evolution.  This evolution of the origin of man leaves the existence of humankind to the mind of man.  How and when human life began and why it exists is a non-issue for humanist. The biblical view contrasts this humanist view by proclaiming the truth of a personal and intimate God as found in His proclamation of truth in His Word.  According to the Humanist Manifesto II, naturalists “find insufficient evidence for belief in the existence of a supernatural. In the humanist mind of the question of origin, it does not include the idea of the miraculous or supernatural.  (Gutierrez and Weidman, 2014). 

God begins the story of creation with His proclaiming his self-existence and his creating all that exists. In Genesis chapters 1, 2 and 3 God outlines the creation of the heavens and the earth in detail.  He explains the creation of the solar systems and the existence of plant life and animal.  God explains the creation of both sexes, male and female, in Genesis chapter 2.  In Colossians 1:16, Paul upholds the confirmation of God’s creation of everything that is in the world by stating, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” (KJV).

The Question of Identity.

The anthropology of secular humanism is often going to have family resemblances with anthropology of Christianity. (Engleke, 2014) Secular humanism anthropological thinking includes the ideals of evolution.  This enlightened thinking came from theologians.  Man began as an animal and then evolved into a complex human being.  Due to the advances in the microbial sciences in recent years, the argument of irreducible complexity has further changed the minds of secular humanist (Behe, 2016).  Humanists have added a creation story to their belief system due to the evidence pointing toward a creator of such detail and organization of systems. (Engleke, 2014).  In the Christian worldview, the clear understanding is humankind was created as “male and female” (Genesis 1:27, KJV).  This human creation by God has specific purpose and reasons for existence as found in Genesis 1:28, KJV.  God intended for humankind to be the authority over all of creation.  Our purpose included being “fruitful and multiply” (propagation of the species).  God intended for humankind to reproduce more humans.  In this same verse God lays out the importance of humans over animals by reminding human creation of being able to “subdue the earth”.  This is God allowing His sovereignty and authority to flow from Himself to his creation.

The Question of Meaning and Purpose

In Scripture, King Solomon declares that our purpose is to “fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, KJV).  God created us with meaning and purpose.  Our main purpose is to fear God.  God is not looking for us to be horrified by His presence but to commune and have relationship with Him.  He is a personal God.  Throughout scripture God is constantly in communications with humankind.  It is humankind that stops the communication with God due to our sinful nature. Fear of God has been removed from secular humanism. There is a systematic removal of God from the secular society and the replacement is human based government and self-promotion. 

Secular Humanism and its meaning/purpose.

 In Secular Humanism, humankind is thrust upon the throne of God.  In an article called, “The New Humanist,” two prominent figures in the humanist worldview believe that humanism can provide “a more meaningful and satisfying life answer in light of the question of diversity” (Taliaferro, 2015).  This promise of a more meaningful life is only plagued by answers that come from the Judeo-Christian belief system.  As the writer points out that both subjects of the article agree the Christian traditions have its merits but do not offer a solution for diversity question.  The diversity question is answered in a simple verse found in the Pauline epistle of Romans 2:11 (KJV) “For there is no respect of persons with God.”. God does not care about diversity, but humankind does.

The Question of Morality.

The question of what is right and what is wrong plagues all worldviews except Christianity.  Christianity is the only worldview that sees humankind as God sees us as we are sinners.  After the fall of humankind, God pronounced our true heart problem, which is sin.  In Genesis 6:5- God saw the “wickedness in the heart” of every human being and that it was great. And it repented the Lord that he had made humankind on the earth and it grieved him at his heart.”  God was saddened by our moral decay.  Christianity declares this throughout scripture.  In humanism, the question of morality literally does not exist.  There is no good and evil.  We must have something defining what is right and what is wrong outside of ourselves.  The law, as Paul teaches in Romans chapter 13:3a KJV, “rulers are not a terror to good works but to the evil.”  God’s laws are not frightening to those that obey the law of God but to point to out humanities desperate need for a savior. 

The Question of Destiny

In secular humanism, there is no belief of an afterlife.  Life ceases to exist when a person passes away.  There is no heaven or hell.  The story of redemption does not happen for the secular humanist because there is no need for redemption.  Humanists believe there is no need for an afterlife because their best life is to be lived in the here and now.  Christianity has a stark difference of opinion.  In the bible, God the Father sends His only Son, Jesus Christ to die for the sins of all of mankind.  At the hands of God’s own creation, Jesus Christ dies, through one of the world’s most brutal deaths, for the payment of the sins of all mankind.  This payment covers all sin, even for those who choose not to believe in God.  His death does not mean that everyone has access to God’s promise of eternal life and heaven.  It allows for those who place their entire faith in what God has done as the recipients of God’s favor.

Conclusion.

In conclusion, the worldview of the secular humanist and Christian is very different.  While humanist rely upon their personal knowledge of the creation of the world, the purpose of humankind and the question of destiny, the believer in Christ can rely upon the word of God as found in scripture.  God who is self-existing has provided assurances for the creation of the world, the question of morality and destiny.  Christians can find answers not by relying upon mental capabilities and observations.  Christian can rely upon God’s Word as found in scripture for the answers they seek.  The wisdom of the book of Job proclaims; Job 32:8(KJV) “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

References

Engelke, M. (2014). Christianity and the Anthropology of Secular Humanism. Current Anthropology, 55(S10), S292-S301. doi:10.1086/677738

Gutierrez, B and Weider, L. (2014) Finding Your Worldview.  Thinking Christianly about the World. 

Taliaferro, C. (2015). The New Secular Humanists: Ronald Dworkin and Philip Kitcher onLife without God. Religions, 6(3), 839-851. http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.3390/rel6030839

The Holy Bible.  The King James Study Bible.  (1981) Thomas Nelson Publishing

YouTube. (2020). Alice Roberts | Morals Without Religion: the Unholy Mrs Knight and the Hypocritical Humanist. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LCTHGm1-lg.

Amazing Flagellum : Michael Behe and the Revolution of Intelligent Design. (2016). YouTube. https://youtu.be/MNR48hUd-Hw.