“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength …”

— Jeremiah 17:5

Humanism—faith in humankind—seems to creep further and further into our society. How does this perspective affect our culture?

To understand the impact humanism has on our society, we must first understand humanistic theory. Let’s look at the four principles upon which it is based. First, humanism touts the doctrine of atheism. Whereas our catechism says that humankind’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, the humanist says that humankind’s chief end is to glorify humankind. The originator of humanism, the ancient Greek philosopher Protagoras, put it this way, “Man is the measure of all things.” Humanism also asserts the doctrine of evolution. Humanists believe the universe is self-existing and not created. Humans simply evolved from lesser forms and are therefore nothing more than animals. The third doctrine of humanism is amorality. Humanists don’t believe in absolutes but instead view truth as relative. Finally, humanists believe that we must have a collectivist society, sacrificing individual well-being for the common good, and that we must establish this society immediately. Some have said that humanism is nothing other than communism in philosophical garb.

Since humanism seems to have a system of doctrinal beliefs, is it a religion? The Humanist Manifesto of 1933 calls it such nine times. Not only is humanism a religion, it’s an insidious one. It uses our public schools as church buildings; some school teachers serve as its ministers; its high priesthood is the National Education Association; its property is valued in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Every year our nation spends tens of billions of dollars in the propagation of humanism’s doctrines and tenets. Humanism is particularly dangerous because, unlike any other religion in America, it is endorsed in the public schools and established in every department of the government of the United States.

We know Who wins in the end, but tragically, many souls will be lost as humanism’s influence increases. Today pray that Jesus will save those who promote the false religion of humanism and for all who believe in it.

“If God is dead, then all things are permissible.”
Fyodor Dostoevsky