Changes

==Classification as philosophy, worldview, or religion==

==Classification as philosophy, worldview, or religion==

Debate continues as to whether humanism is a philosophy, worldview, religion, life stance, or all of the above. Its modern incarnation saw it as the creation of a religion by the [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]] clergyman Charles Francis Potter<ref>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0914FB3458137A93C7A9178BD95F468685F9"CHARLES POTTER, CLERGYMAN, DEAD"], ''New York Times'', October 5, 1962</ref> and offered up as a substitute for Christian [[fundamentalism]]. In the early 1980's media controversies involving pagan humanism as a religion emerged.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=ZcVSiD1BU3EC ''Making the Manifesto: The Birth of Religious Humanism''], William F. Schulz, [[Unitarian Universalist Association]] of Congregations, 2002, ISBN 1558964290, 9781558964297, 148 pages</ref><ref>Potter, C.F. & C.C. [http://books.google.com/books?id=v9EnAAAAYAAJ&q=humanism+a+new+religion&dq=humanism+a+new+religion&hl=en&ei=9otLTc2DJoOyuAOl4_Q3&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA ''Humanism, A New Religion''] Simon and Schuster; (1930)</ref>

Humanists themselves have openly admitted of humanism's religious attributes for decades.<ref>Blumenfeld, S. [http://thenewamerican.com/opinion/sam-blumenfeld/3001-is-humanism-a-religion "Is Humanism a Religion?"] in ''The New American'' (2010)</ref> Despite this, the claim is occasionally denied and sometimes attempted to be recast as a philosophy, worldview, or life stance (or some combination of the above). Its modern incarnation saw it as the creation of a religion by the [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]] clergyman Charles Francis Potter<ref>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0914FB3458137A93C7A9178BD95F468685F9"CHARLES POTTER, CLERGYMAN, DEAD"], ''New York Times'', October 5, 1962</ref> and offered up as a substitute for Christian [[fundamentalism]]. In the early 1980's media controversies involving pagan humanism as a religion emerged.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=ZcVSiD1BU3EC ''Making the Manifesto: The Birth of Religious Humanism''], William F. Schulz, [[Unitarian Universalist Association]] of Congregations, 2002, ISBN 1558964290, 9781558964297, 148 pages</ref><ref>Potter, C.F. & C.C. [http://books.google.com/books?id=v9EnAAAAYAAJ&q=humanism+a+new+religion&dq=humanism+a+new+religion&hl=en&ei=9otLTc2DJoOyuAOl4_Q3&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA ''Humanism, A New Religion''] Simon and Schuster; (1930)</ref>

==Criticism==

==Criticism==

[[Image:Lahaye-family-01.jpg|right|400px|thumb|from Tim LaHaye, ''The Battle for the Family'', 1982.]]

[[Image:Lahaye-family-01.jpg|right|400px|thumb|from Tim LaHaye, ''The Battle for the Family'', 1982.]]

Humanism has been criticized by a number of Christian authors, given its rejection of God's authority and elevation of fallen man in His place. [[R.J. Rushdoony]] said: {{cquote|Since World War II in particular, the humanistic establishment of the United States has been in a steady if not covert war against Biblical faith and law. It has steadily overturned long-standing landmarks of Biblical law in favor of humanistic law. It has begun to prosecute Christian groups which will not submit to regulations and controls<ref>Rushdoony, R.J. "Sovereignty and Law" in ''Sovereignty''. Ross House Books; Vallecito, CA; p. 7 (2007)</ref>}} Critics have also pointed out that pagan humanist advocates "have made 'socialization' of the child the main purpose of American education." Humanistic education does not focus on "the traditional and generally accepted virtues" stressed by the "Judeo-Christian principles taught by most families at home," but on theories of "[[moral relativism]] and situation ethics" which are "based on predominantly [[Dialectical materialism|materialist]]ic values found only in man's nature itself" and "without regard for the Judeo-Christian moral order, which is based on the existence and fatherhood of a personal God."<ref>Onalee McGraw, ''Secular Humanism and the Schools: The Issue Whose Time has Come''; Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC; (1976).</ref>

Humanism has been criticized by a number of Christian authors, given its rejection of God's authority and elevation of fallen man in His place. [[R.J. Rushdoony]] said: {{cquote|Since World War II in particular, the humanistic establishment of the United States has been in a steady if not covert war against Biblical faith and law. It has steadily overturned long-standing landmarks of Biblical law in favor of humanistic law. It has begun to prosecute Christian groups which will not submit to regulations and controls.<ref>Rushdoony, R.J. "Sovereignty and Law" in ''Sovereignty''. Ross House Books; Vallecito, CA; p. 7 (2007)</ref>}} Critics have also pointed out that pagan humanist advocates "have made 'socialization' of the child the main purpose of American education." Humanistic education does not focus on "the traditional and generally accepted virtues" stressed by the "Judeo-Christian principles taught by most families at home," but on theories of "[[moral relativism]] and situation ethics" which are "based on predominantly [[Dialectical materialism|materialist]]ic values found only in man's nature itself" and "without regard for the Judeo-Christian moral order, which is based on the existence and fatherhood of a personal God."<ref>Onalee McGraw, ''Secular Humanism and the Schools: The Issue Whose Time has Come''; Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC; (1976).</ref>

==References==

==References==