It's been ten years since I've read the book Secular Humanism: Threat and Challenge by Robert E. Webber. It's been thirty-two years since Robert E. Webber has written the book. Some of its tone seems to be as current as ever. Its rhetoric is definitely current. But, in typing the notes I've noticed a few things about my own thoughts on these topics in my current mindset. I've matured; become less naïve and developed a more nuanced view of the world. I'm not sure if that's always the best thing in the world, but it is the brute fact. But, I've become a little bit more open-minded to things as well. I think I'd be less apt to label secular humanism as hypocritical in the margins of my notes today. I might not; I once yelled at an Ayn Rand book and scared some poor Starbucks sipping soccer moms to death.
I reject the dichotomy between science and Christianity that has plagued us since the renaissance. I accept that the Church has at times been a source of blocking progress in numerous fields of knowledge. But, I reject that it blocks progress in the fields of ethics. Ethics is a field in which progress ought not to be made.
I am no longer stand vehemently against the theory of evolution. It seems to be, at the moment, the best paradigm we posses for how man came to be in the physical state he is at the moment. It has nothing to do with his moral state though. Physical evolution cannot produce morality. But, as a Christian I am confident that whether the Genesis account of creation was supposed to be literal or figurative or something in between, it has no bearing on the salvation offered by Jesus Christ. Whether God used words and instant gratification, or a form of evolution, the fact of the matter is that when God created the world He had already set into motion His plans to redeem mankind.
I am still very much against abortion except in rare circumstances. I have no problem with state sanctioned marriages because they have nothing to do with the marriage that is sacred in the Bible. The Bible puts marriage up as a union between a man, a woman and God. Secular marriage should be meaningless to the purely Christian viewpoint. Now, pastors or priests who marry someone in a non-Biblical fashion, they are going to have to answer for that some day. But, that has nothing to do with a state sanctioning.
The secularist optimistic view of man is hopelessly flawed as well. Man is inherently evil. While it is possible for the most evil of person to do something good or for less evil men to suppress their evil for awhile, that evil always lurks in the back and given the right circumstances will manifest itself. If those right circumstances happen to be when a given individual is in a powerful position, the manifestation will bring about powerful consequences. The good that even the most heinous of men possess is the remnant of the Imago Dei shining through the darkness. The difference between the Christians and the non-Christian is that darkness has been overcome by the light in a reunion with Christ. That is it.
The separation of Church and State used to be a hot topic for me. I thought it was awful that God was being blocked from public forums. The fact of the matter is though that a government cannot block God from coming into the public domain. I don't need to worry about that. God will manifest Himself whether a secularist government wants Him to or not. That isn't a battle worth fighting because it is already won. While I feel that I would be less inclined to nod my head along if I were to read this book now as I find myself agreeing on a couple of things he said about politics.
"The Church should not seek to accomplish its task in society through political power or legislative force" (Webber, 109). The Church isn't supposed to be a political vehicle. Divorce your politics from your faith. That doesn't mean accepting recent legislation as being the new ethically right standpoint. Ethics don't evolve because moral absolutes still exist, regardless of what man thinks of them. What it means is that your political agenda shouldn't influence your walk with Christ and it shouldn't move the Church in any particular way. The Church can recognize the brokenness that some secularist laws create the conditions for. But, when your political affiliation or your patriotism begins to move your walk with God or your church's agenda you can be pretty sure that you'll end up down a path that isn't authentically Christian.
Showing posts with label Abortion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abortion. Show all posts
Monday, July 20, 2015
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Brief Notes on The Epistle of Barnabas
(Originally Written June 3, 2008 in the Journal)
The Epistle of Barnabas seems to have been written between 70 - 200 A.D. It is not believed that this Barnabas is the same Barnabas as Paul's companion.
The Epistle of Barnabas
"For on the way of righteousness I have had the companionship of the Lord" (Early Christian Writings, 159).
There are three principles of the Lord:
1. Faith
2. Hope
3. Love
The Lord has made known to us that He has no need of oblations and sacrifices. The Lord seeks us to give to the needy and give the Lord a contrite heart as sacrifice.
We as Christians are not to withdraw within ourselves and live in solitude. We must make ourselves into the temple of the Living God.
The Lord sanctified us by the remission of our sins in His death.
Ruin justly awaits those who know the way of Holiness but choose the way of Darkness.
The prophets of Israel can only be understood through their fulfillment in Christ Jesus.
Though Jesus Christ was fully God, He came into this world as a man and suffered so that His affliction would win life for us.
Moses spoke of the dietary laws for which the Israelites understood carnally, but we, as Christians, understand them spiritually.
There are two ways of teaching, two wielders of power: the light and the darkness.
To follow the Way of Light is to give glory to Him who redeemed you from death. The Way of Light is never marred by hypocrisy. The Way of Light loves its neighbor more than itself.
"Never do away with an unborn child, or destroy it after its birth" (Early Christian Writings, 180).
"Whatever experience comes your way, accept it as a blessing, in the certainty that nothing can happen without God" (Early Christian Writings, 180).
Be as pure as you can. Detest evil. Be generous. Do not come to prayer with a bad conscious.
The Way of Darkness is defiance of God. Those in the Way of Darkness are sunk in sin.
The Epistle of Barnabas seems to have been written between 70 - 200 A.D. It is not believed that this Barnabas is the same Barnabas as Paul's companion.
The Epistle of Barnabas
"For on the way of righteousness I have had the companionship of the Lord" (Early Christian Writings, 159).
There are three principles of the Lord:
1. Faith
2. Hope
3. Love
The Lord has made known to us that He has no need of oblations and sacrifices. The Lord seeks us to give to the needy and give the Lord a contrite heart as sacrifice.
We as Christians are not to withdraw within ourselves and live in solitude. We must make ourselves into the temple of the Living God.
The Lord sanctified us by the remission of our sins in His death.
Ruin justly awaits those who know the way of Holiness but choose the way of Darkness.
The prophets of Israel can only be understood through their fulfillment in Christ Jesus.
Though Jesus Christ was fully God, He came into this world as a man and suffered so that His affliction would win life for us.
Moses spoke of the dietary laws for which the Israelites understood carnally, but we, as Christians, understand them spiritually.
There are two ways of teaching, two wielders of power: the light and the darkness.
To follow the Way of Light is to give glory to Him who redeemed you from death. The Way of Light is never marred by hypocrisy. The Way of Light loves its neighbor more than itself.
"Never do away with an unborn child, or destroy it after its birth" (Early Christian Writings, 180).
"Whatever experience comes your way, accept it as a blessing, in the certainty that nothing can happen without God" (Early Christian Writings, 180).
Be as pure as you can. Detest evil. Be generous. Do not come to prayer with a bad conscious.
The Way of Darkness is defiance of God. Those in the Way of Darkness are sunk in sin.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Framework on abortion discussion
(Originally Written on March 21, 2006 in 3 Subject)
Contemporary Issues of Philosophy
Topic 7: Abortion
Introduction: The psychology of language
Pro-Choice:
1. Strong
-No restrictions
-an absolute right to have an abortion
2. Weak
-restrictions on pregnancy stage
-restrictions on motive
-restrictions on consent
-restrictions on notification
Pro-Life
1. Strong
-no exceptions
-always morally wrong to have an abortion
2. Weak
-exceptions involving life of the mother
-exceptions involving rape
-exceptions involving incest
Legal Background of Abortion
-Roe v. Wade
-Webster v. Reproductive Services
-Planned Parenthood v. Casey
Biblical Overview
-Exodus 21: 10 Commandments
-Genesis 4
-Job 3:3
-Isaiah
-Psalms
-Luke
Contemporary Issues of Philosophy
Topic 7: Abortion
Introduction: The psychology of language
Pro-Choice:
1. Strong
-No restrictions
-an absolute right to have an abortion
2. Weak
-restrictions on pregnancy stage
-restrictions on motive
-restrictions on consent
-restrictions on notification
Pro-Life
1. Strong
-no exceptions
-always morally wrong to have an abortion
2. Weak
-exceptions involving life of the mother
-exceptions involving rape
-exceptions involving incest
Legal Background of Abortion
-Roe v. Wade
-Webster v. Reproductive Services
-Planned Parenthood v. Casey
Biblical Overview
-Exodus 21: 10 Commandments
-Genesis 4
-Job 3:3
-Isaiah
-Psalms
-Luke
Saturday, December 3, 2005
Notes on Secular Humanism: Threat & Challenge - 3
(Originally written December 3, 2005 in Book 1)
Secular Humanism: Threat & Challenge
Robert E. Webber
1982
Chapter 4 - The Playboy Mentality
The playboy mentality promotes free sex, TV sex and pornography. The playboy mentality has given a rise in drugs, explicit song lyrics, alcohol abuse and homosexuality.
Chapter 5 - The Violent Society
Expressions of violence in our culture:
-War
-Television
-The Family
-Abortion
Christians and secularists may agree on the evils of war, but they do not have the same reasons leading up to the conclusion. Christians should strive for peace because it is in accordance with Christ's teachings.
Violence on TV leads to violence in society.
Without God we are free from accountability. We are free from marital covenants, free from child raising responsibilities and free to pursue all of our selfish ambitions.
Abortion is the ultimate expression of violence being used to solve a problem.
Chapter 6 - The schoolroom nightmare
There are four areas in which secular humanists and Christians clash in the public school system:
- Values clarification
- Sex Education
-Creation vs. Evolution
-Prayer in schools/observance of religious holidays
Public education has overstepped its role and has begun to teach morality or values clarification. Because of the presence of secular humanism in the schools they teach a morally relative version of ethics. Moral absolutes and religious teachings learned by children from their Christian parents are being undermined by the school's morality teachings.
Sex education is a dangerous arena for everyone. Because of the differing views on sex held by the secular humanists and Christians it is important to monitor this closely. It is important for children to learn about sex, but the worldly values taught in public education should be excluded from the curriculum.
Creation vs. evolution is a hot topic in the public school debate. Christians argue that scientific creation should be taught alongside of evolution or that evolution should be only taught as a theory and not fact. Because of the differing views of creation within the Christian community it is not likely that a strictly Christian view of the origin of life will be pushed into the public schools. Young Christians should be encouraged to become science teachers so that evolution will be only taught as a theory.
Prayer in schools is a question of whether the government should protect the freedom of religion or the freedom from religion. Christians should not advocate for token prayers in schools that are more for show than truly religious in nature.
Chapter 7 - The political tangle
The question is how involved should Christians be in using politics as a way of regulating morality. The clash between secularists and Christians over legislating morality is due to the secularists wanting laws to be relative so that people can do what they want, whereas Christians want to legislate against 'sinful acts' for the greater good of society. Homosexuality and their rights fall under the category of moral legislation. Christians want to protect the sanctity of marriage while secularists want to assert an individual's right of choice. A second example of moral legislation is the abortion issue. The U.S. government devalued the unborn child's life and gave it only the value of the carrier's decided value of that unborn child. A third example of this occurs within the laws of marriage. Commonwealth marriages give unmarried couples the rights and benefits of married couples. This new type of relationship undermines the institution of marriage. It gives way to the thought that society's social patterns is what ought to be used in determining what is right and wrong, in lieu of using moral absolutes as the determining factor.
In dealing with the issue of Church and State a Christian must realize the state is a temporary institution, while God is forever. A separate Christian state is nowhere advocated for by Jesus. We are to give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's.
The state can be used by Satan to undermine the works of Christians.
Without a moral authority over the head of the state, the state becomes the ultimate source of right and wrong. Essentially, the state becomes a god.
Secularism argues that the state is to protect the rights of all individuals and to determine what is right and wrong. Communism, another secular movement, decides what is right for the collective community. Both of these are flawed because what is right can change from ruler to ruler due to shifting values and attitudes.
Christians argue that the function of the state should be to contain the differing institutions and balance their freedoms with a sense of order that is necessary to have a true government. Christians should look at the government as appointed by God, but should not overstep its boundaries to become itself a god. The thing that should be most frightening to Christians is that once a government passes moral legislation that is in conflict with the Christian viewpoint that legislation will soon become the ethical norm.
Chapter 8 Where do we go from here?
Secular humanism and Christian humanism will continue to clash. There are four reasons for this:
1 Human nature is fallen
-Christians believe man is evil by nature due to the fall
-Secular humanists believe in the inherent goodness of man
-"All naïve hopes that individuals will change and society will become better are utopian and false" (Webber, 106).
2 Christ has redeemed the world
-Christians believe that Christ offers salvation to the world
-Secular humanists believe salvation is man's duty to create
3 The Church is the society of the redeemed
-Christians believe this statement
-Secular humanists believe the Church is an enemy of progress
4 The Church is to act as 'salt & light'
-Christians believe and act on this statement
-Secular humanists see Christians as standing in the way of freedom
"The Church should not enter into political and economic alliances that will compromise authentic Christian humanism" (Webber, 109).
"The Church should not seek to accomplish its task in society through political power or legislative force" (Webber, 109).
We should not use America as a tool to spread Christianity throughout the world. The job of evangelism is the Church's. If we are to give that job to America we are going to weaken the Church and to give false premises to the world that Christianity is supposed to use military force to spread the good news.
The Church should instead instruct people on the values and ethics of Christianity and act as an example to the world. The Church needs to wake up, but not use political power to move its agenda.
Secular Humanism: Threat & Challenge
Robert E. Webber
1982
Chapter 4 - The Playboy Mentality
The playboy mentality promotes free sex, TV sex and pornography. The playboy mentality has given a rise in drugs, explicit song lyrics, alcohol abuse and homosexuality.
Chapter 5 - The Violent Society
Expressions of violence in our culture:
-War
-Television
-The Family
-Abortion
Christians and secularists may agree on the evils of war, but they do not have the same reasons leading up to the conclusion. Christians should strive for peace because it is in accordance with Christ's teachings.
Violence on TV leads to violence in society.
Without God we are free from accountability. We are free from marital covenants, free from child raising responsibilities and free to pursue all of our selfish ambitions.
Abortion is the ultimate expression of violence being used to solve a problem.
Chapter 6 - The schoolroom nightmare
There are four areas in which secular humanists and Christians clash in the public school system:
- Values clarification
- Sex Education
-Creation vs. Evolution
-Prayer in schools/observance of religious holidays
Public education has overstepped its role and has begun to teach morality or values clarification. Because of the presence of secular humanism in the schools they teach a morally relative version of ethics. Moral absolutes and religious teachings learned by children from their Christian parents are being undermined by the school's morality teachings.
Sex education is a dangerous arena for everyone. Because of the differing views on sex held by the secular humanists and Christians it is important to monitor this closely. It is important for children to learn about sex, but the worldly values taught in public education should be excluded from the curriculum.
Creation vs. evolution is a hot topic in the public school debate. Christians argue that scientific creation should be taught alongside of evolution or that evolution should be only taught as a theory and not fact. Because of the differing views of creation within the Christian community it is not likely that a strictly Christian view of the origin of life will be pushed into the public schools. Young Christians should be encouraged to become science teachers so that evolution will be only taught as a theory.
Prayer in schools is a question of whether the government should protect the freedom of religion or the freedom from religion. Christians should not advocate for token prayers in schools that are more for show than truly religious in nature.
Chapter 7 - The political tangle
The question is how involved should Christians be in using politics as a way of regulating morality. The clash between secularists and Christians over legislating morality is due to the secularists wanting laws to be relative so that people can do what they want, whereas Christians want to legislate against 'sinful acts' for the greater good of society. Homosexuality and their rights fall under the category of moral legislation. Christians want to protect the sanctity of marriage while secularists want to assert an individual's right of choice. A second example of moral legislation is the abortion issue. The U.S. government devalued the unborn child's life and gave it only the value of the carrier's decided value of that unborn child. A third example of this occurs within the laws of marriage. Commonwealth marriages give unmarried couples the rights and benefits of married couples. This new type of relationship undermines the institution of marriage. It gives way to the thought that society's social patterns is what ought to be used in determining what is right and wrong, in lieu of using moral absolutes as the determining factor.
In dealing with the issue of Church and State a Christian must realize the state is a temporary institution, while God is forever. A separate Christian state is nowhere advocated for by Jesus. We are to give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's.
The state can be used by Satan to undermine the works of Christians.
Without a moral authority over the head of the state, the state becomes the ultimate source of right and wrong. Essentially, the state becomes a god.
Secularism argues that the state is to protect the rights of all individuals and to determine what is right and wrong. Communism, another secular movement, decides what is right for the collective community. Both of these are flawed because what is right can change from ruler to ruler due to shifting values and attitudes.
Christians argue that the function of the state should be to contain the differing institutions and balance their freedoms with a sense of order that is necessary to have a true government. Christians should look at the government as appointed by God, but should not overstep its boundaries to become itself a god. The thing that should be most frightening to Christians is that once a government passes moral legislation that is in conflict with the Christian viewpoint that legislation will soon become the ethical norm.
Chapter 8 Where do we go from here?
Secular humanism and Christian humanism will continue to clash. There are four reasons for this:
1 Human nature is fallen
-Christians believe man is evil by nature due to the fall
-Secular humanists believe in the inherent goodness of man
-"All naïve hopes that individuals will change and society will become better are utopian and false" (Webber, 106).
2 Christ has redeemed the world
-Christians believe that Christ offers salvation to the world
-Secular humanists believe salvation is man's duty to create
3 The Church is the society of the redeemed
-Christians believe this statement
-Secular humanists believe the Church is an enemy of progress
4 The Church is to act as 'salt & light'
-Christians believe and act on this statement
-Secular humanists see Christians as standing in the way of freedom
"The Church should not enter into political and economic alliances that will compromise authentic Christian humanism" (Webber, 109).
"The Church should not seek to accomplish its task in society through political power or legislative force" (Webber, 109).
We should not use America as a tool to spread Christianity throughout the world. The job of evangelism is the Church's. If we are to give that job to America we are going to weaken the Church and to give false premises to the world that Christianity is supposed to use military force to spread the good news.
The Church should instead instruct people on the values and ethics of Christianity and act as an example to the world. The Church needs to wake up, but not use political power to move its agenda.
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