The Inhumanity of Humanism
The humanistic philosophy has plagued man since the very beginning of time. Though not formalized until the mid-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the roots of humanism have been traced back beyond the ancient Greek philosophers all the way to the dawning of the Chinese civilization. Though the fundamental teachings of humanism can be found in every period of man’s history, its effects have probably never been more far-reaching and more influential than they are in our society at this point in time. Championed as a movement that would unite humanity, that would seek the greatest good of mankind, that would right most (if not all) social injustices, humanism is, in reality, one of the most inhumane, damnable heresies that has ever been brought forth. While it is not the intention of this short article to be a full-scale treatise of humanism, we do wish to examine some of the core beliefs of this insidious evil, and the sway it holds over society, even as it affects religion.
The Basic Tenets of Humanism
Vital to the overall understanding of the humanistic philosophy is its bedrock affirmation that “the nature of the universe depicted by modern science makes unacceptable any supernatural or cosmic guarantees of human values” (Humanist Manifest I, 1933) [for sake of brevity, I will simply refer to Humanist Manifesto I, Humanist Manifesto II, and Humanist Manifest III as HMI, HMII and HMIII from henceforth. These sources can be found with a simple web search]. As stated in their own words, “We find insufficient evidence for belief in the existence of a supernatural…As nontheists, we begin with humans not God, nature not deity” (HMII). Humanists “recognize nature as self-existing,” and humans as “an integral part of nature, the result of unguided evolutionary change” (HMIII). Again, hear them speak: “But we can discover no divine purpose or providence for the human species” (HMII). All other tenets of humanism start from this major premise—that man is the product of chance and evolution, and as such is not the crowning jewel of a Divine creation.
With the idea of the supernatural being discarded, it only follows that humanists would insist that “the traditional dualism of mind and body must be rejected” (HMI). In the estimation of the humanist, the denial of the immortal soul also does away with thoughts of life hereafter. The idea of an eternal existence somewhere is, to the humanist, “both illusory and harmful” (HMII). Therefore, “the complete realization of human personality [is] to be the end of man’s life and seeks its development and fulfillment in the here and now” (HMI). Having then cast off any idea of a higher power, and with it, a supreme law, and having no concern about eternal reward or punishment, man then becomes a law unto himself. “Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience” (HMIII). Again, according to humanism, “ethics is autonomous and situational needing no theological or ideological sanction” (HMII). Rather than attributing the value of life to its having been created in the image of the Divine, humanism circumvents such thinking by merely stating that human life has “inherent worth and dignity” (HMIII). Humanists must attach value to human life in order for their system of morals and ethics to have any meaning. They assign such value arbitrarily, however. While supposedly upholding the “dignity of the individual person,” humanism nonetheless considers abortion as an inalienable right, as well as “the right to die with dignity, euthanasia, and the right to suicide” (HMII). What happened to the “inherent worth and dignity” of the millions of babies slaughtered every year, or the countless aged who are ushered into a premature grave in the name of so-called progress? Ah, consistency, thou art a jewel! It comes down to their belief that “all persons should have a voice in developing the values and goals that determine their lives” (HMII).
-Patrick Morrison
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