Humanism or What?

I am currently nose-deep in research for my next book, The Truth Was Different. This book will attempt to explain the strange and unfeeling behavior of Moeder in Unforgivable.

Humanism

One thing I am aware of is that she was a Humanist. She did not believe in a deity, but ascribed to the elevation of all things “human.” Science, reason, dignity, morality, kindness, compassion, and freedom are core values of Humanism. Sounds good, right? People are at the center, and they’re empowered to do whatever they think is best.

The problem is that Humanism doesn’t work. For example, Humanists believe that

“Using technology wisely, we can control our environment, conquer poverty, markedly reduce disease, extend our life-span, significantly modify our behavior, alter the course of human evolution and cultural development, unlock vast new powers, and provide humankind with unparalleled opportunity for achieving an abundant and meaningful life.”

And yet, climate change is destroying habitats and killing millions. Almost 10% of the world’s population lives below the poverty line. COVID-19 killed seven million people, and over 620,000 people die every year from malaria. Our behavior is no better—wars abound, crime goes unpunished, and wealth is hoarded. The sad fact is that after 300,000 years of evolution, we haven’t come near to achieving what Humanism says we can.

People Are Flawed

When I first published this article, I missed a very important point. Thanks to my friend, Helen Joyce, it’s here now! As she wrote me, “Both religion and science have the capacity and proven history to elevate and abuse. The problem lies not in the religions or science, but in man’s inherent nature.” In Gen 8:21, it says that “man’s heart is evil from his youth.” Romans 3:23 says, “Everyone has sinned and falls short of the glory of God.” 

Basically, Humanisn doesn’t work because, as Judaism and Christianity assert, we aren’t inherently good. Because of that, even though “religion – and humanism – can help to civilise human creatures, ultimately our animal instincts – combined with the power of intellect – [are a] source of evil and destruction.” (Quoted from Helen Joyce, except for what lies in the brackets.)

 Christianity and Judaism

In his book, Dominion, Tom Holland argues that much human progress can be attributed to Christianity (the real deal, not how people corrupt it), which is, of course, derived from Judaism. Jesus was Jewish, and much of His teaching came from his heritage. The Bible, and its teaching about a rational God, inspired the scientific revolution. The beauty of Jesus’ teaching of forgiveness and love has inspired a wealth of art and culture, and a belief in the dignity of individuals has contributed to the development of social programs and education.  These teachings are the basis of modern human rights and moral behavior. In other words, true faith, when practiced as taught in the Bible (and that’s a HUGE proviso), works.

I sure wish that Moeder were still around. I’d love to enjoy a cup of coffee and chat about all of this. That’s no longer possible, so I’ll do the next best thing: write a blog and get back to my research!