"The joy of childbirth, refreshing breeze, fine wine; are they just all evolutionally mechanics to further our species?"
Secular humanism has forged powerful inroads into modern thinking and all levels of education, yet in spite of this, 95% of Americans still say they believe in God. It only goes to show that if an ideology fails to reflect the inherent nature of man it will eventually crumble like the ruins of a bygone civilization. The greatest advocates of secular humanism include educators and the science community, yet ironically, today many of the most prestigious universities are undertaking considerable scientific research toward understanding the connection between religious practice, prayer and human health. I picture a cluster of white lab coats surrounding a holy man kneeling on the floor while minute changes in brain chemistry are monitored. We should not mock, after all, we Christians dissect scripture and teach profound messages on the power of prayer, yet pray little.
Every culture, even isolated peoples all reveal a deep need inherent within man, even more imperative to health than food and water, and that is a faith in God. Some say religion is a crutch for the weak of mind but the need to believe in God is far deeper than just being a crutch. And if faith in God is a human weakness, then so too is the need for food and water.
Atheists not only believe man evolved from apes, but looking farther down the timeline, they say we evolved from mud. Yet mud has no need to worship or pray nor does any other living creature except man. Why rise above the primordial soup of unconsciousness into awareness, evolve a hunger for something beyond ourselves, just so we can be profoundly disappointed when flesh and bone gives way to death? What a sad state of affairs. It would have been better to remain an unfeeling rock or simple-minded apes. What is this life for, if seeking a deeper purpose only ends in futility?
If the need to believe in God is so inherent within man, how did such a need evolve? Truly if man is only a tiny aberrational blip along the endless flux of matter and energy, here for just a moment, then melting back into timeless change, where did such powerful spiritual consciousness come from? Those deep desires of survival, compassion, hope, joy and faith are the invisible driving forces of what gives man the will to breathe his next breath.
The joy of childbirth, or baby at breast, the pleasure of a warn kiss or kind word, a refreshing breeze, fine wine or quality music, all evolutionally mechanics to further our species? Is this nothing more than brain chemistry, producing allusions of meaningfulness for the purpose of directing survival behaviors?
Although Secular Humanism has had its day in the sun, it is presently declining in popularity. There is a groundswell of interest in all things spiritual. This should not surprise us, the book of Revelations does not describe the last days as marked by atheism and humanism. Quite the opposite, all mankind will be desperately seeking spiritual direction. When the popularity of Secular Humanism has waned, it will have fulfilled its purpose, leaving in its wake a fatal spiritual emptiness, setting the table for an energetic spiritual leader who will promise to fill such a sociological vacuum, appealing to the politically correct wide road of enlightenment and moral tolerance, a brand of spirituality the intellectual will happily endorse. The “One Way, narrow road” message of the uncompromising Christian will not be able to compete with the new fashion spirituality and will be viewed as intolerant trouble makers and old school legalists. All the more reason for Christians to do the hard work of being well grounded so as to protect their faith and to become effective apologists in a world full of muddled myths and ambiguous theories.
Related Article: The Importance of Intelligent Faith