SECULARISM

In my encounters with Secularists I have made a number of observations:

Secularists are guided by a fundamentalist world-view that guides their thoughts and actions. In many ways Secularism has much in common with religion; its followers are zealous, and missionary minded.

Secularists come across as being elitist and intolerant (which is very strange as they trumpet loudly “tolerance” as one of the very things that they seek to promote). As far as they are concerned Secularism is “The truth, The Way and The Life”, and that anything that does not fit in with their view point cannot be tolerated and should be opposed and fought.
Secularists come across as dogmatic and doctrinaire.

The National Secular Society’s General Principles are as follows:
• Secularism affirms that this life is the only one of which we have any knowledge and human effort should be directed wholly towards its improvement.

• Affirming that morality is social in origin and application, Secularism aims at promoting the happiness and well-being of mankind. Secularism demands the complete separation of Church and State and the abolition of all privileges granted to religious organisations.

• Secularism affirms that progress is possible only on the basis of equal freedom of speech and publication; that the free criticism of institutions and ideas is essential to a civilised state.

• It asserts that supernaturalism is based upon ignorance and assails it as the historic enemy of progress.

• It seeks to spread education, to promote the fraternity of all peoples as a means of advancing universal peace to further common cultural interests and to develop the freedom and dignity of mankind.

• To remove an impediment to these objectives, we demand the complete separation of Church and State and the abolition of all privileges granted to religious organisations.

I shall examine these principles, which are simply a “Statement of Faith” of Secularism:

Secularism affirms that this life is the only one of which we have any knowledge and human effort should be directed wholly towards its improvement.
This first principle of Secularism directly opposes the first commandment of Christ’s teaching—To love God above all things. Whilst followers of Christ do work towards the improvement of life we cannot direct our efforts “Wholly” towards this goal (Mt 6:19-21) (Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also).

Affirming that morality is social in origin, and application, Secularism aims at promoting the happiness and well-being of mankind. Secularism demands the complete separation of Church and State and the abolition of all privileges granted to religious organisations.
Secularism envisions a world free from the influence of the teachings of Christ. The guiding principle of secularists is that “morality” has its origins in society AND MUST BE APPLIED only BY SOCIETY—however this must be as interpreted by secularists. Followers of Christ will not be opposed to the principle of the “Separation of Church and State” as this is a principle that governs all churches but the Church of England in UK.

Vast numbers of charitable organisations that operate in the UK were founded and continue to operate as religious bodies. Many international charities also would be affected by the removal of certain “privileges” such as tax-exemption, and the ability to appropriate funding from many sources. Relief Agencies, Red Cross, Orphanages, Aids Relief, Anti Poverty Groups, Drug Rehabilitation Groups, Homeless Charities plus many others would all be unable to operate in such a climate.

Secularism affirms that progress is possible only on the basis of equal freedom of speech and publication; that the free criticism of institutions and ideas is essential to a civilised state.
Followers of Christ will criticise and denounce hypocrisy and evil. It was this very principle that placed Jesus and His Apostles in conflict with the powers that be. It is the experience of this author that should the voice of dissent come from a Christian view point that opinion is roundly denounced, and the person attacked vigorously by secularists. “Equal speech and publication” cannot be achieved where the machines of the state are geared against a non-secularist world-view, Secularism is biased against the teachings of Christ.

It asserts that supernaturalism is based upon ignorance and assails it as the historic enemy of progress.
Any follower of Christ will believe and live their life in accordance with the understanding that there is a supernatural aspect to life. So many of the advances in progress; Scientific, Medical, Social Reform, Political, Economic have come about as a direct result of the belief in a Supernatural and Supreme Being.

It is true that aspects of super naturalist belief is based on superstition and is an enemy of progress, this can be seen clearly in the way that many of the Great Reforms of the past were actively opposed by Church and State—yet it was faith in God that sustained the dissenters!

It seeks to spread education, to promote the fraternity of all peoples as a means of advancing universal peace to further common cultural interests and to develop the freedom and dignity of mankind.
The world’s cultural interests are largely based on religious issues. The imposition of a secular view point actually is destructive to such cultures. Whilst there are some differences which are neither here nor there, there are fundamental points of difference that cannot be bridged. “Common Cultural Interests” will mean only what the secularists determine them to be.

To remove an impediment to these objectives, we demand the complete separation of Church and State and the abolition of all privileges granted to religious organisations.
Yet again we see the repetition of this. This can only mean that the fundamental principle of Secularism is the removal of all religious influences from society, with the ultimate goal of the silencing and destruction of Christianity in general.

© 2006 John L. Hayworth