Humanism

Humanism is a philosophy, worldview, and religion that places humanity and the material at the center of philosophical inquiry. It rejects God and theistic religions, instead seeing "man as the measure of all things." Its tenets originate from pagan Ancient Greece and classical philosophy. It was revived (in a somewhat different form) during the European Renaissance, but faded and re-emerged in the 20th century with a significant pagan and atheistic emphasis. It continues to have a major impact in shaping modern ways of thought, making its presence felt in such fields as legislation, liberal junk science, education, and art.

Origin

In an environment of widespread paganism, humanism first emerged in the thought of Ancient Greece.

Christian Humanism

In the times of Renaissance Europe, various classical Greek and Latin works (thought lost) had been rediscovered. This saw the rise of Christian Humanism, which argued that the height of Western civilization had been in the classical period. However, with the fall of Rome, much knowledge had been lost, suggesting that much of the knowledge that remained was corrupted by false traditions. It was therefore the responsibility of the scholar to rediscover the original Greek and Latin texts, and thereby separate false interpretations of reality from real wisdom.

Proponents of Christian humanism looked to Ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration on how to develop society and political structures. The poet Petrarch rediscovered writings by the ancient Roman orator and politician Cicero, whose ideas about the role and structure of government inspired the humanists to reconsider established views about society and call for expanded civic participation in the state. In addition to Cicero, other classical sources were also consulted and referred to. Niccolo Machiavelli wrote his "Discourses on Livy", in which he commented on the history of ancient Rome written by the Roman historian Livy, and used his writings to show the virtues of the Roman Republic and how a republican state should behave.

This movement had a profound effect on medieval society. With its emphasis on classical texts and the rejection of much of the Roman Catholic religious tradition that developed in the Middle Ages, this form of humanism helped lead to the Protestant Reformation. Many of the new humanist liberal Bible translations, such as Erasmus's Greek New Testament, were important sources for both Martin Luther's translation of the Bible and the King James Version of the Bible.

Pagan Humanism

Despite the siting of humanism within Christianity during the Middle Ages, this structure was not sustained. Radical changes to the meaning of humanism occurred in the modern era. The 20th century atheistic philosophy of pagan humanism emerged, and grew out of the liberal enlightenment, relying entirely on reason without religion. Humanism therefore rejects the idea of a supernatural being responsible for the creation of the universe. As a result, humanists believe instead that people are responsible for their actions and that purpose in the universe is not dependent upon the existence of or faith in a God. The International Humanist and Ethical Union's Minimum Statement on Humanism states:

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Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality.

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A principal element of pagan humanism is the assumption of fundamental human rights - which may include a right to life, to liberty, freedom of speech, the right to pursue happiness, a right to a family life, and similar things. However, humanism does not claim these rights are given by God, but are an inherent property of human intelligence and worthy of defending, although the exact definition of rights is not universally agreed upon by humanists. Humanists encourage self will and independent thought in all matters, which can include Judeo-Christian as well as Humanist principles.

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 Unitarian clergyman Charles Francis Potter and offered up as a substitute for Christian fundamentalism. In the early 1980's media controversies involving pagan humanism as a religion emerged.

Criticism

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:

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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

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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 materialistic 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."

See also

• Christian Humanism
• Conservative Bible Project - an alternative to Bible translations influenced by humanism
• Psychology - some branches deny The Fall and its effect on human problems
• Thomas More