Secular Humanism

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Recommended: Effects of secularization on society

The fall 1986 Tennessee court decision on alleged "secular humanism" in Holt, Rinehart, Winston textbooks illustrates the continuing controversy over that term.

The term "secular humanism" is used today to castigate a wide spectrum of our populous. The derision with which the term is used suggests images of horrid, grotesque monsters. In reality, however, the term merely consists of two sorely misunderstood words. In combination they suggest a virus, though singly they are innocuous, if not healthy.

"Secular" means having to do with this world, or that which is temporal rather than spiritual. It suggests something that is not specifically pertaining to religion, or that which is apart from God, although not necessarily opposed to God.

Christians recognize the value and legitimacy of this area of life. God pronounced the Creation "good." As a result, we do not shun the physical half of our being or of the world. Therefore, eating and drinking, work, and for example, are properly part of being in God's world. The Incarnation is a living example of God's regard for the "secular." God, in Christ, affirms the value of this world and its inhabitants.

This "secular" sector of reality the Christian shares with all other creatures, including fellow human beings. We could say that the "secular" is a neutral arena, which can be used properly or improperly, for good or for ill, to the glory of God or in defiance of God, depending on the character and purpose of the user. It is up to each individual to serve or not to serve God through such means. As Paul enjoins, "Whatever you do...do it to the glory of God" (I Cor. 10).

Actually, the secular/sacred dichotomy is artificial since God says, "Whatever is under the whole heaven is ...

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...iority of the Christian message. They did not merely criticize, they articulated positive alternatives.

In the realm of education at least, Christians should take their cues from these examples. We should not be afraid of engaging opponents intellectually. Nor should we stop our ears from learning about the "secular." Instead, we should use our God-given rational capacities in the midst of the secular to transform society toward the Kingdom of God.

In summary, there is much involved in both "secular" and "humanism" that Christians can affirm. Meanwhile, "secular humanism" should be distinguished from a "Christian humanism." And Christians should not be content with merely denouncing "secular humanism," but instead must reclaim the proper use of humanism and its emphases. We shouldn't allow the contamination of healthy ideas to spoil the legitimate use of them.

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