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BY BRANNON S. HOWSE Is humanism a religion? Let's begin this important discussion by defining the term "religion." Random House Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language defines "religion" as: "a set of beliefs." Webster's New World Dictionary defines "religion" as: "a system of belief." The word "belief" is defined as opinions as "thoughts upon which people base their actions."2 Another way to say this is that an individual's worldview is the foundation of his values, and his values are the foundation of his actions. Thus, the answer is now clear. Humanism is a religious worldview. Unfortunately, most Americans do not realize that humanism is a religion funded and promoted in America's public schools by taxpayers' money. While this is taking place, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and other humanist organizations, liberal groups and individuals file lawsuit upon lawsuit. Their targets: Students who pray over their lunch, mention God or Jesus Christ in their graduation speeches, sing Christmas carols, have Christmas parties, observe Thanksgiving, and on and on. While these same groups, individuals and organizations fight to remove the religion of Christianity from our schools, colleges, courtrooms, city hall buildings, city seals, and city squares, their dirty little secret is they don't want a religion-free zone. They want to replace the Judeo Christian faith and acknowledgement of God's place in our history and its impact on our nation and culture. Their goal is to substitute the Judeo Christian religion for their religion of secular humanism. If Americans, in large enough numbers, would come to understand the facts I am about to document in this chapter, the fight would no longer be misconstrued by the opposition and liberal media. Dr. David Noebel and Dr.Tim LaHaye, in their 2003 New York Times Best Seller titled, Mind Siege, write: "The truth is, humanism is unmistakably and demonstrably a religion. One need merely visit the second edition of A World Religions Reader to note the prominence given to Secular Humanism as one of the World's religions. Indeed, in a list of the World's religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Sikhism, Secular Humanism is at the top."3 Some argue that humanism - unlike Christianity - does not force a specific set of religious positions and beliefs on people. Dr. Noebel continues, "Humanists preach a faith every bit as dogmatic as Christianity. Moral relativism is foundational for Secular Humanists ethics; spontaneous generation and evolution are basic to their biology; naturalism is foundational to their philosophy; and atheism is their theological perspective."4 Atheism is the belief there is no God. Since there is no God according to humanists, they proclaim that they are God. In fact, the very definition of humanism is "the belief that man is God." As its foundation, Secular Humanism has six main beliefs that include:
While reading this section, keep in mind that your beliefs are the foundation of your values, and your values are the foundation of your conduct. What you are about to read reveals how today's Secular Humanists are indeed living out their worldview. Humanist Manifesto I: "The separation of church and state and the separation of ideology and state are imperatives." Humanist Manifesto II: "We find insufficient evidence for belief in the existence of a supernatural…." The British Humanists Association: "Some opponents of Humanism have accused us of wishing to overthrow the traditional Christian family. They are right. That is exactly what we intend to do." Peter Singer, Austrian philosopher: "Christianity is our foe. If animal-rights is to succeed, we must destroy the Judeo Christian religious tradition." The National Education Association (NEA): In a 1997 resolution, the NEA declared "…The Association opposes any federal legislation or mandate that would require school districts to schedule a moment of silence…." Resolution 26, in 2003, read: "The Association also opposes any federal legislation or mandate that would require school districts to schedule a moment of silence." Democratic National Committee (DNC): In 2004, DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe appointed the Reverend Brenda Bartella Peterson as the senior advisor of religious outreach. Bartella was one of thirty-two clergy members who filed a Supreme Court brief in the summer of 2004 taking the side of Michael Newdow, the atheist who sued to make it illegal for public school children to say "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. American Civil Liberties Union: In 1960, "the ACLU launched several legal initiatives to prohibit Christmas decorations or the singing of carols in public schools or on public property."5 The Regent's Prayer Case of 1962 was "one of several anti-prayers suits that the ACLU was involved in- [in which] lawyers argued that a prayer recited each day in the New York public schools constituted an unlawful 'establishment of religion.' " In 1976, the ACLU "brought suit in New Jersey in an effort to prohibit Christmas pageants in the public schools."6 In 1981, the ACLU took a case hoping "to prohibit the Gideons from distributing Bibles to students in the public schools on the grounds that such programs constitute a violation of the "'separation of church and state.'" 7 In 1986, "the ACLU was able to forbid religious invocations before high school football games. For the first time, the lawyers successfully used 'endorsement' languages instead of the traditional 'establishment' language - the implication being that the government is not only forbidden to establish or institutionalize religion, it is even forbidden to endorse or condone it." 8 In 2004, the ACLU sued the City of San Diego for renting property to the Boy Scouts'. The ACLU is offended by the Boy Scouts commitment to prohibit homosexual Scout leaders and atheists. Humanist Manifesto I: "Humanism believes that man is part of nature and that he has emerged as a result of a continuous process." National Education Association: In Brief, the NEA newsletter, stated: "Radical right extremist are also attempting to impose a curriculum that mirrors their values and inculcates fundamentalist Christianity…. In communities all over the country, members of the religious right have attempted to impose censorship and the teaching of creationism on the public schools."9 "The Association…[also] believes that legislation and regulations that mandate the teaching of religious doctrines, such as so-called 'creation science,' violate both student and teacher rights. The Association urges its affiliates to seek repeal of such mandates where they exist."10 American Civil Liberties Union: The main argument of the ACLU in the Scopes Trail in 1925 was that "it is bigotry for public schools to teach only one theory of origins (creation)." "The ACLU launched its 'manipulated test case' strategy against the State of Tennessee's education standards, locating a small town biology teacher to act as a plaintiff and a showcase lawyer to focus national attention on the issue. Despite the fact the ACLU and its high profile defender, Clarence Darrow, lost to the state's attorney, William Jennings Bryan, the publicity proved to be invaluable."11 In August of 2003, the ACLU filed a lawsuit seeking to force the Cobb County School Board to remove disclaimers on evolution from high school textbooks. The stickers state that evolution is a theory, not a fact, and should be critically considered.12 In the Arkansas Creation Case of 1982, "fifty-six years after it had argued against educational exclusionism in the Scopes Trail, the ACLU reversed itself, fighting against the right to teach various views of origins in public school classrooms."13 Humanist Manifesto II: "We affirm that moral values derive their source from human experience. Ethics is autonomous and situational. Ethics stem from human need and interest." American Civil Liberties Union: "The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) opposes criminal prohibition of drugs. Not only is prohibition a proven failure as a drug control strategy, but it subjects otherwise law-abiding citizens to arrest, prosecution and imprisonment for what they do in private."14 Humanist Manifesto II: "It also includes recognition of an individual's right to die with dignity, euthanasia, and the right to suicide." Humanist Manifesto II: "The right to birth control, abortion…." National Education Association: In 2003, NEA Resolution 12 stated that the NEA supports family planning, including the right to reproductive freedom. The Association also urges the implementation of community-operated, school-based family planning clinics that will provide intensive counseling by trained personnel. The Democratic National Committee Platform 2000: "The Party stands behind the right of every woman to choose, consistent with Roe v. Wade, and regardless of ability to pay. We believe it is a fundamental constitutional liberty that individual Americans - not government - can best take responsibility for making the most difficult and intensely personal decisions regarding reproduction. This year's Supreme Court rulings show to us all that eliminating a woman's right to choose is only one justice away. That's why the stakes in this election are as high as ever. Our goal is to make abortion less necessary and more rare, not more difficult and more dangerous." American Civil Liberties Union: "The ACLU was the first national organization to argue for abortion rights before the Supreme Court and has been the principal defender of those rights since 1973 when the Court recognized the right to choose in Roe v. Wade."15 In the Doe v. Bolton case of 1973, The ACLU led the legal fight in a case that-with the companion Roe v. Wade ruling - eventually overturned the restrictive abortion laws in all fifty states."16 In the Akron Case of 1983, "The ACLU successfully fought to overturn the right of localities to regulate the medical safety and the proper disclosure of abortion-related businesses."17 Humanist Manifesto 2000: "Although parental moral guidance is vital, parents should not simply impose their own religious outlook or moral values on their children or indoctrinate them. Children, adolescents, and young adults should have exposure to different viewpoints and enjoy encouragement to think for themselves. The view of even young children should be respected." American Civil Liberties Union: "ACLU applauds Appeals Court decision upholding minors' right to confidential abortions." In other words, the ACLU wants minor children to be able to have an abortion without their parents' knowledge. National Education Association: In Today's Education 1983-1984, the NEA made it clear how it feels about parental authority as follows: The NEA believes that communications between certified personnel and students must be legally privileged. It urges its affiliates to aid in seeking legislation that provides this privilege and protects both educators and students. In the February 10, 1973, issue of the Saturday Review of Education, former NEA president, Catherine Barrett makes clear the objective of this powerful organization: "Dramatic changes in the way we will raise our children in the year 2000 are indicated, particularly in terms of schooling…. When this happens - and it's near - the teacher can rise to his true calling. More than a dispenser of information, the teacher will be a conveyor of values, a philosopher…. We will be agents of change." The third annual conference of the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME) brought together multicultural educators from all 50 states. Keynote speaker Lily Wong Fillmore, a professor of language at the University of California at Berkeley, asserted that the radical curriculum reform they propose will provoke "definite clashes with the practices, beliefs and attitudes that are taught in many homes…. No matter what students' parents and families think about others or the environment…we are going to have to inculcate in our children the rules that form a credo that will work for a multicultural 21st century…."19 Humanist Manifesto I: "…the quest for the good life is still the central task for mankind." Humanist Manifesto II: "We strive for the good life, here and now…. Neither do we wish to prohibit, by law or social sanction, sexual behavior between consenting adults. The many varieties of sexual exploration should not in themselves be considered 'evil.' " Humanist Manifesto 2000: "The opportunity for appropriate sexual education should be made available from an early age. This should include responsible behavior, family planning, and contraceptive techniques." The National Education Association: "The Association …encourages its affiliates and members to support…birth control and family planning…diversity of sexual orientation and/or gender identification…homophobia.20 The American Civil Liberties Union: In 2004, the ACLU filed a lawsuit challenging a Virginia state law that bans nude summer camps for teenagers. A nude camp was being sponsored in Virginia for students ages 11 through 18, and the ACLU opposed the legislation that said the students had to have a parent or guardian present. Humanism Manifesto I: "A socialized and cooperative economic order must be established to the end that the equitable distribution of the means of life be possible." Humanist Manifesto II: "We need to democratize the economy and judge it by its responsiveness to human needs, testing results in terms of the common good." "World poverty must cease. Hence extreme disproportions in wealth, income, and economic growth should be reduced on a worldwide basis." Humanist Manifesto 2000: "We should strive to provide economic security and adequate income for everyone." American Civil Liberties Union: The Founder of the ACLU proclaimed that the goal of his organization is "…socialism, disarmament, and ultimately for abolishing the state itself as an instrument of violence and compulsion. I seek social ownership of property, the abolition of the propertied class, and sole control by those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal. It all sums up into one single purpose-the abolition of dog-eat-dog under which we live."21 In the Sacco and Vanzetti Case of 1927, "the ACLU defended two notorious anarchists who had been charged with first-degree murder following a payroll robbery. With a long list of ties to the subversive socialists underground, Sacco and Vanzetti sealed the ACLU's reputation as a radical instrument of the Left for some time to come."22 The National Education Association: In 1940, a California Senate committee was assembled to investigate how various foundations were using their resources to promote certain philosophies and control teacher training. The committee discovered that the Rockefeller Foundation spent millions of dollars rewriting current history books and creating new history books that undermined patriotism and a free enterprise system. The California committee was shocked to discover that the curriculum, which was funded by the Rockefellers and promoted by the NEA, taught socialist ideas. The committee stated: "It is difficult to believe that the Rockefeller Foundation and the National Education Association could have supported these textbooks. But the fact is that the Rockefellers financed them, and the NEA promoted them very widely."23 The New York Herald Tribune published a story on the NEA Convention held June 29, 1938, in New York City and reported the following: Dr. Goodwin Watson, Professor of Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, begged the teachers of the nation to use their profession to indoctrinate children to overthrow "conservative reactionaries" directing American government and industry…(He) declared that Soviet Russia was one of the most notable international achievements of our generation. American Sovereignty and their Commitment to the U.N. Humanist Manifesto II: "We have reached a turning point in human history where the best option is to transcend the limits of national sovereignty and to move toward the building of a world community in which all sectors of the human family can participate. We look to the development of a system of world law and a world order based upon transnational federal government." Humanist Manifesto 2000: "We must develop an effective World Court and an International Judiciary with sufficient power to enforce its rulings." "We recommend an international system of taxation…. We would begin with a tax levied on the Gross National Product (GNP) of all nations, the proceeds to be used for economic and social assistance and development. This would not be a voluntary contribution but an actual tax." "The global community needs to develop a system of international law that transcends the laws of the separate nations." National Education Association: In its 2003 Resolution I-2, the NEA called for an International Court of Justice. "The Association urges participation by the United States in deliberations before the court." In October 1947, the NEA Journal published an article titled, "On the Waging of Peace," by NEA official William Carr, who wrote:
"…nor should any nation or group of nations be allowed to police the world or unilaterally bomb others without the concurrence of the Security Council. The world needs an effective police force to protect regions of the world from conflict and to negotiate peaceful settlements." The American Civil Liberties Union: In the Gastonia Case of 1929, "the ACLU defended seven striking workers who had been convicted of murdering a North Carolina police chief during a particularly violent confrontation. After declaring their anti-Christian and communists beliefs, the seven defendants jumped bail and fled to the Soviet Union."25 In the Smith Act Reversal of 1957, "the ACLU supported the defense of fourteen men convicted of conspiracy to violently overthrow the government of the United States. Lawyers argued on First Amendment free-speech grounds."26 Humanist Manifesto 2000: "Same-sex couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples." The National Education Association 2001 resolution B-9: The NEA calls for an attempt to "increase respect, understanding, acceptance, and sensitivity toward gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered people. Integrate an accurate portrayal of the roles and contributions of all groups throughout history across curricula, particularly groups who have been underrepresented historically." In 1991, "the NEA received damaging national publicity when word leaked out that the convention was going to adopt an in-your-face resolution demanding that the gay rights agenda be incorporated into everything from school curricula to teacher hiring. Revolt in the ranks caused it to be withdrawn. But that was all smoke and mirrors; that convention quietly adopted at least ten separate resolutions that added up to the same objectives and this year's [1993] convention re-adopted the same resolutions."27 "The NEA [was] also fully supportive of what are called the 'multicultural' and 'diversity' agendas. In two resolutions issuing from its 1999 convention it affirmed its commitment not only to 'diversity'-based curricula, but urged that it be introduced in early childhood (from birth through age eight) education programs. One of the resolutions stated 'that a diverse society enriches all individuals.' Part of this enriching diversity, it said, is people with differences in 'sexual orientation'. "28 The British Humanists Association: The Humanist view is that marriage is a human institution…in no sense sacred and immutable. Democratic National Committee Platform 2000: "We continue to lead the fight to end discrimination on the basis of…sexual orientation…. We support continued efforts, like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, to end workplace discrimination against gay men and lesbians. We support the full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of the nation. This would include an equitable alignment of benefits." American Civil Liberties Union: In 1993, "the ACLU took the lead in the fight [on gays in the military] to lift the historic ban on aberrant sexual proclivities in the American armed forces as well as the implementation of a liberal and preferential recruitment and promotion policy."29 In 2003, the ACLU celebrated its legalization of sodomy. "We all owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the countless lawyers, academics and activists who helped bring this decision about. The ACLU is very proud of its work in helping to get rid of sodomy laws. The ACLU brought its first challenge to a sodomy law in 1963. We helped to strike down or repeal sodomy laws in California, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New York, Tennessee…you get the picture. Along with Lambda Legal we've worked for eight years to get a same-sex intimacy case to the Supreme Court. (And forgive us if we can't help but mention that the ACLU's friend-of-the-Court brief was referred to by the Supreme Court in Lawrence once at the oral argument and twice in the decision - a single mention of any brief is unusual enough-but three times in a hat trick!)"30 "The Massachusetts ACLU is defending the North American Man Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) in a lawsuit by a murdered boy's parents who claim NAMBLA's website encourages rape and violence against children (New York Times, September 1, 2000). To the ACLU, NAMBLA is engaged in political advocacy. Advocacy, the ACLU preaches, however distasteful and immoral, is protected by the First Amendment."31 Humanist Manifesto 2000: "We need to recognize that current lifestyles in the industrialized North are unsustainable…." "Runaway consumption is already putting unprecedented pressure on the environment…." "…limiting fishing on the high seas that threatens the extinction of entire fish populations…." "If present demographic trends continue, another 3 billion people will be added in the next half century. If population continues to grow as projected, it will lead to a drastic decrease in the available tillable grain lands…." "Global warming is probably on the increase, in part as consequences of deforestation in poor countries and atmosphere carbon-dioxide emissions, especially in the affluent nations, which continue to waste natural resources." "The populations of others species have steadily declined, and many forms of plant and animal life are becoming extinct-perhaps the greatest extinction since the disappearance of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago." "We recommend the strengthening of existing UN agencies and programs most directly concerned with the environment. The United Nations Environment Programme, for example, should be given the power to enforce measures against serious ecological pollution." The American Civil Liberties Union: In the Patterson Strike Case of 1924, "the ACLU defended a group of textile union members and other social activities-including the ACLU's own founder, Roger Baldwin - who launched a large scale strike and illegally occupied private property."32 Baldwin declared his hatred of private-property when he stated the goals of his organization were "…socialism, disarmament, and ultimately for abolishing the state itself as an instrument of violence and compulsion. I seek social ownership of property, the abolition of the propertied class, and sole control by those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal. It all sums up into one single purpose - the abolition of dog-eat-dog under which we live."33 Humanist Manifesto II: "War is obsolete. It is an imperative to reduce the level of military expenditures and turn these savings to peaceful and people-oriented uses." American Civil Liberties Union: In 1921, through the Draft Amnesty Campaign, "the ACLU launched a nationwide drive to release draft objectors and convicted subversives following the First World War."34 While having many reasons for their radical promotion of homosexuality in the military, one cannot deny that it would contribute to the breakdown of the effectiveness and cohesion of the U.S. Military. Thus, in 1993, on the issue of gays in the military, "the ACLU took the lead in the fight to lift the historic ban on aberrant sexual proclivities in the American armed forces as well as the implementation of a liberal and preferential recruitment and promotion policy."35 Humanism is a religion and it is a religion that worships man. Satan tempted Adam and Eve with this same lie by telling them in the Garden of Eden that if they would eat of the fruit of the Tree of Good and Evil, they could "be as God". Satan continues to deceive men and women and students into accepting his lie that they can rule their own life, be the captain of their own soul and decide for themselves what is right and wrong. Christians have the biblical mandate to proclaim truth and to expose every high and lofty thing lifted up against the principles of the Lord which means exposing the lie of Satan that seeks to destroy. The only hope for America is to have millions of committed Christians boldly proclaiming truth. We need to proclaim the truth about the untruth of postmodernism, the new absolutes, moral relativism and the fatal consequences that rejecting truth will have on America. Jesus Christ and truth are one and the same. The Truth loved you and me so much He gave His life on the cross so we can have a personal relationship with Him. If you desire to know Truth deeper and to defend Truth to a world that needs Him, then we invite you to attend the Worldview Weekend coming to a city near you. We must prepare our students to be attacked by the world, to be hated and to be called evil. We must teach our kids to love the Lord our God and have a deepening relationship with Him by making His character and nature the standard for our life. Until we teach our kids that truth is a "Who" not a "what", they will never love truth, defend truth and remain committed to truth. Unless we develop students who love Jesus Christ and are committed to Jesus Christ despite what the world says, we will never have students who love truth or are committed to truth despite what the world says. The battle for every person is to base our values, decisions, and actions on truth and not feelings. Sadly, many employ their feelings and the feelings of those around them to shape their beliefs and worldview. I have witnessed adults at our Christian Worldview Weekends, when asked by one of our speakers the answers to these questions that are crucial to the very foundation of the Christian faith. Most Christians who are asked to answer these questions cannot answer them in a clear and understandable manner. Many Christians cannot contend and defend the Christian faith with clarity and confidence. Why? Because they are not certain how to define truth, recognize truth, and recognize untruth. Unfortunately, many Christians question truth, which means we have to question their commitment to Truth. Most Christians are not prepared with answers when the skeptic and critic challenge the truth claims of Christianity. Not only should Christians want to be ready to answer the questions of the skeptic and critic of truth, but the Christian is commanded to do so. And that is truth! 1"Religion." Webster's New World Dictionary of English Language-The unabridged Edition (New York: Random House, Inc., 1966, 1973), P.135. 2"Belief." The Random House Dictionary of the English Language-The Unabridged Editions (New York: Random House, Inc. 1966, 1973), P135. 3Dr. Tim Lahaye and Dr. David Noebel, Mind Siege, Word Publishing, Nashville, TN, 2000 quoting Ian S. Markham, ed., A World Religious Reader, 2nd ed. (Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Publishers, 2000). 4Dr. David Noebel, Clergy in the Classroom (Summit Press, Manitou Springs, CO. 1995) p.9. 5George Grant, The Family Under Siege, Bethany House Publishers, Mlps, MN, 1994). P. 140. 6Ibid; p.140. 7Ibid, 140. 8Ibid, 141. 9Education Report, Eagle Forum, July 1988, NO. 150. 10NEA Resolution quoted in Samuel L. Blumenfeld's book, NEA: Trojan Horse in American Education. 11George Grant, The Family Under Siege, Bethany House Publishers, Mlps, MN, 1994). P. 139. 12ACLU sues over disclaimers, The Associated Press, VOL. 91 NO. 3, Friday, August 23, 2002. 13George Grant, The Family Under Siege, Bethany House Publishers, Mlps, MN, 1994). P. 141. 14ACLU website, About the ACLU Drug Policy Litigation Project 15ACLU website, Reproductive Rights 16George Grant, The Family Under Siege, Bethany House Publishers, Mlps, MN, 1994). P. 140. 17Ibid, p. 141. 18ACLU website, Women's Rights 19Lily Wong Fillmore, Keynote speaker at the third annual conference of the National Association for Multicultural Education, Los Angeles, February 11-14, 1993. Cuddy, 102. 20NEA 2003 Resolution B-40 as sighted in the Phyllis Schlafly Report, August 2003, Vol. 37, NO. 1 21Grant p. 149. quoting Willaim Donohue, The Politics of the American Civil Liberties Union (New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction, 1985), p. 5-6 22George Grant, The Family Under Siege, Bethany House Publishers, Mlps, MN, 1994). P. 139. 23Gary Kah, En Route To Global Occupation, (Lafayette, LA: Huntingon House, 1992), P.60. 24Dennis Laurence Cuddy, PH.D. The Grab for Power, (Marlborough, NH: Plymouth Rock Foundation, 1993) p. 7. 25George Grant, The Family Under Siege, Bethany House Publishers, Mlps, MN, 1994). P. 139. 26Ibid, p.140. 27Who Controls Education Policies? By Phyllis Schlafly VOL. 37, NO. 1., August, 2003. 28David Limbaugh, NEA: Politicizing 'education' July 12, 2003 29George Grant, The Family Under Siege, Bethany House Publishers, Mlps, MN, 1994). P. 141. 30ACLU website, Why the Supreme Court Decision Striking Down Sodomy Laws Is So Important 31Howi Beigelman, What Kind of First Amendment is this anyway? Jewish Law Commentary, 32George Grant, The Family Under Siege, Bethany House Publishers, Mlps, MN, 1994). P. 139. 33Grant p. 149. quoting Willaim Donohue, The Politics of the American Civil Liberties Union (New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction, 1985), p. 5-6 34George Grant, The Family Under Siege, Bethany House Publishers, Mlps, MN, 1994). P. 138-139. 35Ibid; p.141. |