Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - July/93

Contributor - P. J. B. Hommersen

Title - As For Me And My House - Dangers to Today's Families

Topic - Family

The family is an institution ordained by God. It is the fundamental, indispensable structure on which human society is built. It consists of a man and a woman lawfully wedded - any other form of union is biblically prohibited. The Christian family is a special family in which God is the head. As such it has a distinct role in shedding light in the darkness of this world.

There are many dangers besetting and challenging Christian families, and family structure in general, in today's society. To discuss all of these would be beyond the scope of this article; hence, the discussion will be restricted to one of the most significant dangers, the philosophy called "secular humanism."

The humanist philosophy traces its beginnings back to the dawn of civilization. From there it worked its way up through the ages to finally arrive at its present form. It went from small groups of freethinkers to large organizations and evolved through several name changes and alliances with similar groups such as: Ethical Culture, New York Cultural Society, Natural Humanism, Ethical Humanism, Religious Humanism, Secular Humanism.

Today there are two main lines of thinking: 1) Secular Humanism - it embraces all humanists and secularist humanists denying all Christian doctrines and values; and 2) Religious Humanism religion finds it expression in human life without extraterrestrial revelation or experience. It is man-centred and denies the existence of God.

All through history proponents of the humanist line of thinking counted philosophers, evolutionists, humanitarians, civil libertarians, etc. as their adherents. Names come to mind such as: Immanuel Kant, Spinoza, Sir Julian Huxley, Felix Adler, Isaac Asimov, Albert Einstein, Friedrich Froebel.

The Humanist Manifesto #1 was signed in 1933 by 34 people and was followed in 1973 by Humanist Manifesto #2 which may be considered an update of Humanist Manifesto #I.

Edward L. Ericson's book, The Humanist Way by The Continuum Publishing Company, N.Y, explains the birth of humanism. It is clear, entertaining to read and definitively antiChristian. Read on.

The Humanist Manifesto *1 states: "There is great danger of a final, and we believe fatal, identification of the word 'religion' with doctrines and methods which have lost their significance and which are powerless to solve the problems of humans living in the 20th Century.

"Today, man's larger understanding of the universe, his scientific achievements, and his deeper appreciation of brotherhood have created a situation which requires a new statement of the means and purposes of religion."

The humanist ideology clearly shows a desire to attack "religion", and thus Christianity. It goes by many names: humanism, secular humanism or religious humanism, but the resulting danger to Christianity is the same whichever name you choose. The following quotations show just how direct this attack is.

Humanist Manifesto #1 Article 1: "Religious humanism regards the universe as self- existing and not created."

Article 2: "Humanism believes that man is a part of nature and that he has emerged as the result of that continuous process." Humanist Manifesto #2 Article 2: "Promises of immortal salvation and fear of eternal damnation are both illusory and harmful."

Article 6: "In the area of sexuality, we believe that intolerant attitudes, often cultivated by orthodox religions and puritanical cultures, unduly repress sexual conduct. The right to birth control, abortion, and divorce should be recognized."

From these few (shortened) quotations, it can readily be seen that humanism is an atheistic ideology that permeates every facet of society and can be classified as an all-pervading evil. The fact that 42 of the 140 signatories of the humanist Manifesto #2 were teachers, speaks for itself The danger is evident. The humanists have a plan to change the way people in today's society think. This begins with our children.

Consider this excerpt of humanist thinking.

"Every child in America entering school at the age of five is mentally ill, because he comes to school with certain allegiances towards our founding fathers, toward our elected officials, toward his parents, toward a belief in a supernatural being, toward the sovereignty of this nation as a separate entity. It's up to... teachers to make these sick children well by creating the international children of the future."

The Bible strongly opposes this thinking. Proverbs 22:6 states, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." However, in humanism the emphasis is no longer on the parents to instruct the child; but it is up to the child to make his own choices. The following two humanist quotation are classic examples of this.

"Everyone must develop his own set of principles to govern his own sexual behaviour."

"If your decision about using marijuana is important to you, you should be the one to make it."

Parents must assume responsibility for their childrens' education. If ever there was a case to be made for Christian education, today's looming danger of humanism is it. Ed Van Woudenberg, author of A Matter of Choice says it clearly,

"Parents, when it comes to teaching your children, you must assert your rights to the fullest. It is not only a tight, it is an obligation you have to the God who owns your children and who has given them to you in trusteeship.

The Bible consistently stresses the parental role in education. Deuteronomy 11:19 states: 'You shall teach them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up'."

Be alert at all times to what your children are being taught. Pray for the freedom of religion in this country. Pray for our Christian schools. Pray also for our public school system and the witness of the Christian students and teachers there.

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