What is Secular Humanism?: Why Humanism Became Secular and how it is Changing Our WorldSecular Humanism has become a deeply influential and highly successful movement. Our schools, government, mass media, courts, and even our churches have fallen under the sway of ideas that proclaim man's independence from God and assert his freedom to shape his own future. The philosophy that declares "no deity will save us; we must save ourselves" has quietly woven its way into the fabric of our daily lives. This book probes the origins of this dynamic movement, its momentum through history, its present impact on Western civilization, and its probable future course. With the keen perspective of a professional historian, James Hitchcock shows how Secular Humanism emerged during the Enlightenment as a full-fledged philosophical system, antagonistic toward Christianity, with a distinct program for government, human ethics, and morality. Secular humanist ideas have spread so widely and deeply, he says, that Christians often fail to recognize that these ideas now provide the dominant model for man's view of himself and his world. Hitchcock does not simply condemn Secular Humanism, as many do today. Rather, he argues persuasively that Secular Humanism is a betrayal of true humanism. The sickness of Western society--its intellectual exhaustion, moral decadence, social discontent, and political failures--can be traced to its dependence on a system of ideas that work against man's true identity. Hitchcock calls for Christians to lead the way in restoring true humanism--the belief that genuine human progress and fulfillment must be based on the recognition that man is dependent on God.--Adapted from book jacket. |
Contents
What Is Secular Humanism? | 7 |
The Road to Modernity | 19 |
The Secularization of the West | 33 |
Copyright | |
8 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
abortion accepted American American Humanist Association anti-religious atheists attitudes audience authority B.F. Skinner become began behavior believers Bible called Catholic Christian Humanism claim contemporary deeply deny divine effect Enlightenment Erasmus eternity ethics example existence faith Filthy Speech Movement freedom Greek groups Humanist Manifesto Humanist Manifesto II Humanistic Psychology ideas influence influential kind least liberal Christians liberal churches lives major mass media means merely modern moral revolution moral values movement nation nature nineteenth century nonbelievers one's orthodox pagan parents Paul Kurtz philosopher political popular pornography possible practice primarily principle probably problems programs prosperity Protestant public schools realize regarded religion religious belief religious liberalism Renaissance respect responsibility Scripture Secular Humanism Secular Humanists secularists seemed sense separation of church sexual skeptic social society spirit teachings television tend theologian things thought totalitarianism traditional moral truth ultimate universe virtually Voltaire wanted Western worldly young youth culture