"Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human
beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their
own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an
ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and
free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not
accept supernatural views of reality."
It is unwise to reject that which can not be disproven simply on the basis
it falls beyond the realm of experience. The medieval Church made this
mistake by insisting the earth was the center of the universe with no
documented support, religious or otherwise simply because the limits of
their contemporary observation techniques had thus far failed to render in
insight.
It is equally Nieve to discount the rich heritage, archeology, anthropology
and textual criticism that thus far has demonstrated that holy writ is at
the very least a honest attempt by reasonable people to faithfully convey
history. And given that axiom, the Bible does claim to be the Word of God.
From secular history, we know that the God of the Judeo Christian world has
since the dawn of civilization preserved a remnant for Himself through
repeated attempts to extinguish that faith system.
Since it is impossible to disprove the tenants of The Bible or Theism by
very nature, the possibility at least exists that God does indeed exist and
is generally as revealed in Scripture. Assuming that to be the case,
history has taught us that He does not take very kindly to secular attempts
to eliminate His people any more than He endorses corruption or hypocrisy
among those who call upon His name. Any movement or group seeking the
elimination of The Church would be wise to keep this possibility in mind.
While there is nothing wrong with using human efforts to improve the human
condition, why do so at the expense of the very human institution of
religion? Why disguise a philosophical beef as a substitute for genuine
altruistic motives? Why incur the anger of that which can not be disproven
and those who hold to faith therein? History has taught us that it is
unwise to do so.
But as for The Church, Many of the travails it now faces are largely due to
it's tendency to adulterate it's self to the profane and the humanistic in
an ungodly pursuit of mammon. The Church rightly ought to remain true to
that which it has been given, rather than to compromise to thos who desire
to tear it asunder. If the church can no longer be distinguished from the
world to which it is an emissary, wherein is it's value?
Let those who believe and those who do not believe both take heed.
"The leading cause of atheism today is Christians who claim Jesus Christ
with their mouths but deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an
unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." -Carmen
