MOV:Humanism: America's "New religion"  by Jimmy Swaggart

   "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." - Romans 1:22

   The world was shocked and appalled at the Russian's unprovoked and
inhuman attack on Korean Airlines Flight 007. As the Russian pilot
vectored in on the lumbering 747, he knew full well that it was a
passenger airliner carrying innocent, civilian souls. Still, he
followed orders and loosed the missiles that would send 270 terrified
passengers plummeting to their death. This sordid display of inhumanity
allowed the world to see in graphic detail an ultimate example of
secular humanism in operation.

   How can oneequate 270 bodies floating in the Sea of Japan with
secular humanism? Very simply. The Soviet Union is the world's
prototype and example of secular humanism. Communism is the inevitable
end result of this philosophy of darkness. In this article, I hope to
shed some light on what is happening today in the United States and,
thus, open some eyes that are presently blinded.

   HUMANITARIANISM, THE HUMANITIES, AND SECULAR HUMANISM.

   There is a rather innocuous ring to the phrase "secular humanism."
It scarcely reveals the ravenous lion lurking behind the term. As a
result, the American people, by and large, have little comprehension of
just what secular humanism really encompasses. First, to avoid
confusion, let's look at two words that closely resemble secular
humanism but which have totally different meanings.

   A. Humanitarianism

   Humanitarianism is literally an extension of the Gospel - it means
"concern for one's fellow man." It is a living example of Jesus'
statement to "love thy neighbor as thyself' (Mark 12:31). Every
Christian should constantly be concerned about his fellowman. This is
why we are building schools in many areas for the underprivileged
children. This is why we do everything to help nearly 100, 000 children
daily throughout the world. We are being humanitarian - and you are
being humanitarian as you support these projects. We are also commanded
by the very Word of God to be concerned for our brother, and this is
one of the fundamentals of the Gospel of Jesus Christf. So to be
humanitarian is right, proper, and commendable - it is the hallmark of
a true Christian.

   B. The Humanities

   The humanities are, in effect, subjects one studies to become a
totally well-rounded individual. These include the arts, literature,
cultures, and the classics. The humanities (like humanitarianism) have
nothing whatsoever to do with secular humanism aside from sharing the
first five letters of the names by which they are called.

   C. Secular Humanism

   Humanism is, briefly stated, a man-centered philosophy. Secular
humanism EXCLUDES God from its thinking and specifically derides and
denies the possibility of anything supernatural. It beieves and teaches
that man is an accident of evolution and when he dies, he simply slips
into oblivion. There is no soul, no heaven, no hell, no judgment, no
God, no Christ, no resurrection. Everything is centered on man - hence,
the term secular humanism, with the word "secular" implying earthly or
carnal and "humanism" denoting total reliance on man and man's ability
to run the world.

   Every plan made under secular humanism is made without God. The
Bible is totally discounted, God's plan for the human race is ignored,
and the fact that man has a soul and will live forever is considered
impossible and ridiculous. (It is and extension of this humanist belief
that is being taught as a "science" in the death education classes now
being imposed on our nation's children.) If one accepts the tenets of
the secular humanist's faith, one's viewpoint and philosophy of life
must take on a completely new perspective.

   I believe if this "religion" is followed to its ultimate conclusion
it will mean the total destruction of the United States as we now know
it. It is the most sinister and destructive philosophy on the horizon
today. Unless there is a revival of traditional Judeo-Christian
principals and practice, the United States will be completely
destroyed. The culprit in this depressing scenario is, of course,
America's "new religion" - secular humanism.

   Tim LaHaye, noted minister and author, states taht during the last
200 years humanism (man's wisdom) has captivated the thinking of the
western world. After conquering Europe's colleges and universities,
this fallacy has now spread to America where it has obtained a total
stranglehold on public education. He continues by saying that almost
every major magizine and newspaper editor, TV network manager, secular
book publisher, and movie producer is a committed, dedicated humanist.
He further said that today's crime wave - violence in the streets,
promiscuity, divorce, broken homes, and shattered dreams - can be laid
at the door of the secular humanist.

   Anytime man tries to construct philosophical "truths" without God,
the end result will be atheism, rationalism, illuminism, socialism,
communism, evolutionism, Freudianism, behaviorism - and ultimately
"existentialism." This means basically that since there is no hope -
and because tomorrow will no doubt be worse than today - you might as
well get whatever you can from today. Existentialism is the basic
founding philosophy of secular humanism.

   A SUMMARY OF BELIEFS EXPRESSED IN THE HUMANIST MANIFESTO I AND II

   A. Atheism

   "We find insufficient evidence for belief in the existence of the
supernatural ... as nontheists we begin with man not God ... no deity
will save us; we must save ourselves."

   B. Evolution

   "Religious Humanists regard the universe as self-existing and not
created ... the human species is an emergence from natural evolutionary
forces."

   C. Amorality

   "Ethics is autonomous and situational ... and stem from
self-interest - favor right to birth control, abortion, divorce, and
choice of sex direction."

   D. Man-centered Philosophy

   "We believe in maximum individual autonomy - reject all religious,
moral codes that suppress freedom ... demand civil liberties, including
the right to oppose governmental policies - right to die with dignity,
euthanasia, and suicide."

   E. Socialist One World View

   "We have reached a turning point in human history where the best
often is to transcend the limits of national sovereignty and move
toward the building of a world community ... the peaceful adjudication
of differences by international courts."

   Basically, the abbreviated and paraphrased statements that we have
shared with you from Tim LaHaye's book, The Battle for the Public
Schools, pretty well sum up the general beliefs of the humanists and
clarify the tremendously divisive forces being brought to bear on
traditional Christian concepts in American life. They explain the
changes being imposed despite the resistance of the citizenry.
Americans are angry because they don't understand nor like what's going
on, and they're disturbed by the subliminal realization that something
is wrong!

   LET'S LOOK AT HUMANISM AS IT EFFECTS PUBLIC EDUCATION

   Education in America had its beginnings in the churches. Consider
this line: "In Adam's fall, we lost all." If you were to ask a
Christian today to identify the source of this phrase, he would no
doubt say, "A hymn."

   He would know it wasn't from a school book because there is a
biblical connection. Still, it is from a textbook of one of the early
school systems of this country. It is called The New England Primer. It
was common for educational materials in colonial times to be closely
bound to the Word of God. More often than not, the public schools were
operated by a particular denominational church. This is the way public
education began. The various primers included the "Lord's Prayer, " the
"Apostles Creed, " and any number of scriptural and inspirational
quotations.

   In 1787 Congress set aside two sections of land in each township to
be used for the development of universities. At that time, practically
all universities - Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Rutgers, and Dartmouth -
were didicated to preparing ministers. Even beyond this clerical
orientation, all schools considered their foundation to be in the
Christian faith. The North Carolina constitutional provision for
schools stated that "whereby the rising generation may be brought up
and instructed in the PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION ..."

   Originally the American school system gained its teaching force from
Harvard, Princeton, and Yale - all founded to advance the Christian
faith. Howerver, in 1805, Harvard was almost totally taken over by the
unitarianism, German rationalism, skepticism, and biblical criticism -
all the outgrowth of humanism. However, it was not necessarily Harvard
that played the leading role in the change from the Christian faith to
secular humanism. More specifically, Columbia University in New York
City was the prime culprit. By the year 1900, Columbia was the
atheistic and humanistic citadel for America.

   Columbia University served as the headwater of "modern education"
after humanist John Dewwy accepted the head post at Columbia Teacher's
College. Since then, no institution of higher learning (and there are
over 3, 000) has exercised more influence on modern education than
Columbia. It was (and is) the incubator that spewed forth the
ever-increasing tidal wave of malignant humanism that was to convert
the institutions of American education from the Christian faith to
secular humanism. It has succeeded admirably.

   In the late 1700s educational emphasis was almost totally on moral
and religious content. By the early 1800s this dropped to almost 50
percent. By the late 1800s it dropped to 20 percent. Then, in the early
1900s only about five percent on instruction was on moral and
reiligious content! At present the percentage is so minute that it
can't be measured. This is public education today.

   A CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PRODUCES A CHRISTIAN LIFE-STYLE

   The following are the end results of Christian education: human
concern, compassion, evangelism, theological interest, masculinity,
femininity, modesty, independence, self-reliance, the work ethic, free
enterprise, and patriotism. It also includes marriage, the home, a
purpose in life, responsibility, intergrity, diligence, respect for
law, temperance, prudence, self-control, and virtue. Further, there is
interest and support for wholesome literature as well as a general
well-being of children, schools, and colleges with the Word of God as
their foundation. In other words, God's Word is the center of Christian
education and this used to be the standard for America. Today this has
been replaced with humanistic education which produces a number of
unfortunate and unacceptable consequences which we will next
investigate.

   A HUMANISTIC EDUCATION PRODUCES A HUMANISTIC LIFE-STYLE

   Just as the above are the inevitable results of a Christian
education, the following are the end products of a humanistic
education: population control, ecological excesses, abortion,
euthanasia, mind control, transcendental meditation, astrology,
occultism, witchcraft, and prostitution. Then there are big government
with governmental controls, censorship, unemployment, inflation, social
conflict, terrorism, and genocide. These lead to easy divorce, family
breakdown, trial marriages, communal living, selfishness, rebellion
against authority, situational ethics, and general irresponsibility.
Suddenly the country is inundated with crime, negative creativity,
immorality, amorality, child and adult pronography, homosexuality, drug
abuse, incest, venereal disease, rape, doomsday-itis, depression, and
suicide.

   So the difference between Christian education and hmanistic
education is obvious. The incredible fact is that, despite the obvious
consequences of humanistic education, this type of education totally
dominates the American educational system today!

   THE CHANGE THAT IS TAKING PLACE

   In 1940 the top infractions in American public schools were: running
in halls, chewing gum, wearing improper clothes, making noise, and not
putting paper in the wastebaskets. Since the humanists have gained
control of the American school system - and since the Bible has been
discarded as the moral standard - the top offenses in the public
schools are: rape, robbery, assault, personal theft, burglary, drug
abuse, arson, bombings, alcohol abuse, carrying of weapons, vandalism,
extortion, and murder.

   An article in U.S. News and World Report entitled "Terror in the
Schools" (January 26, 1976) gave some astonishing facts in regard to
violence in today's schools. It reported that over 600 million dollars
is spent annually to repair damage done to school property by students.
Between 1970 and 1973 school-related homicides increased by 18 percent.
Rapes and attempted rapes increased by 40 percent. Robberies were up 37
percent and drugs and alcohol on campus increased 38 percent. Terrel H.
Bell, the U.S. Commissioner of Education, said, "Many of our secondary
schools are in the grip of helplessness and deespair.

   In the same article a Community Service Officer of the Washington,
DC Police Department stated that law and order have all but disappeared
from the public schools in the nation's capital. He went on to say, "I
could set up police substations in a couple of those schools and there
would be enough crime for a squad of men to make arrests steadily
throughout the day. You can go to any school and buy about anything
yoiui want in the line of narcotics - and you buy it from the students."

   In regard to teachers, the officer stated that the majority are
assaulted almost daily and make no reports. They figure it's part of
earning their paycheck. He said many more teachers retire on disability
than policemen or firemen. "What you need in Washington, " he said,
"are combat teachers."

   This is what happens when you exclude God from the classroom and
give the reins to humanists. Humanism is responsible for the deplorable
conditions in our public school systems today.

   Doctor Francis Schaeffer said that Europe crossed the
"existentialist line of despair around 1880, while America - because of
its more substantial base of biblical knowledge - didn't pass that
point until the 1930s. Since then, " he continued, "the western world -
including America and Canada - has become increasingly secular; that
is, anti-God. Western civilization was the result of reformation
thinking based on biblical truth. Gradually, however, we have been
secularized. And don't think for a moment this was an accident. It was
all planned by the humanists.

   "Here's their strategy, " Dr. Schaeffer said. "First , take over the
colleges and universities - turning them into `religious citadels' for
the teaching of humanism while excluding or ridiculing the teachings of
traditional religions based on the Bible. This has been done almost 100
percent.

   "Second, train the next generation of journalists, lawyers,
politcians, educators, and other molders of public opinion in the
basics of humanism without God.

   "Third, get former students (now in government) to pass laws and
issue regulations favorable to humanist causes. Then vote them money
collected from taxes to support their work."

   This strategy of the secular humanists has been all but realized on
the American scene - all the way from kindergarten to the politicians
in the State Houses and the White House.

   LET'S LOOK AT RELIGION AND SECULAR HUMANISM

   Strangely enough, most of the seminaries in the United States (and
even Bible Colleges) are being riddled with secular humanists. Pulpits
today are filled with so-called preachers who don't believe in the
inerrancy of the Bible (if they even refer to it). Neither do they
believe that both Old and New Testament Christianity is based on a
rock-solid foundation of reality. Let's look at the typical church
today.

   Some years ago a questionaire was sent to 10, 000 ministers of all
denominational backgrounds. Some 7, 400 were returned. The ministers'
identities were protected so they could give their true feelings
without fear of disclosure. The questions were as follows:

   1. Did Christ actually rise from the dead?

   Thirty-five percent of the Presbyterians said no; 33 percent of
Baptists said no; 51 percent of the Methodists said no; and 30 percent
of Episcopalian preachers said no.

   2. Was Jesus born of the virgin Mary?

   Forty-nine percent of the Presbyterians said no; 60 percent of the
Methodists pastors said no; 44 percent of the Baptists said no; and 44
percent percent of the Episcopalians said no. Nineteen percent of the
American Lutherans did not belive in the virgin birth.

   3. Are Satan and demon spirits real?

   Forty-seven percent of the Presbyterians said they didn't believe in
a real devil or demon spirits. Sixty-two percent of the Methodists
followed suit; 33 percent of the Baptists agreed; and 37 percent of
Episcopalians said they didn't believe that Satan and demon spirits
were real.

   4. Is the Bible the Word of God?

   Eighty-one percent of the Presbyterians said no; 82 percent of
Methodists said no; 89 percent of Episcopalians agreed; and 57 percent
of American Lutherans said no. (Statistics taken from the magizine,
Christianity Today.)

   It is easy to see from these figures that modern-day pulpits are not
filled with true Bible-believing servants of God. The reason that most
of these preachers feel this way is because they were trained in
seminaries or universities dominated by secular humanists!

   Doctor Stephen Muller, President of Johns Hopkins Univerisity in
Baltimore said, "Failure to rally around a set of values means we are
turning out highly skilled barbarians. Society as a whole is turning
out barbarians because of the discarding of the value system it was
built on...To restore its lost value system, America would have to
return to its faith in God. There can be no value system where there is
no SUPREME value that transcends man's natural self-centeredness -
where one man's values are esteemed as good as another's."

   THE CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES IS UNDER DIRECT ATTACK BY THE
SECULAR HUMANISTS

   In many states around the nation, attorney generals are declaring
that since churches are publicly supported, the state has the right to
seize the church and its assets if it suspects mismanagement of this
"public trust." We are witnesses of the imprisonment of Pastor Everett
Sileven and "The Nebraska Seven" of Faith Baptist Church in Louisville,
Nebraska, when they refused to allow the state to take control of their
small Christian school, and there are other examples of such dedicated
church efforts across the country.

   Secondly, the IRS declares that church schools are not part of the
church and are, therefore, subject to federal, state, and local
regulation and control - if they are to maintain their tax-exempt
status.

   Some states and cities are passing "gay rights" laws which make it
illegal to refuse to hire homosexuals for the schools.

   Next, the attorney generals of a number of states have declared that
missions projects are no longer considered part of the church and are,
therefore, subject to regulation by federal, state, and local
government officials.

   Please note that while HOMOSEXUAL TEACHERS may not be removed - even
by vote of public school boards - teachers are FORBIDDEN to even bow
their heads in silent prayer in our public schools.

   Now it should be obvious that the body of Christ is under attack
from two main sources. First, the universities and seminaries are
riddled with secular humanists that turn out preachers who don't
believe in God (or anythihg else); and, secondly, the government is
transparently beginning to DICTATE the state's view of religion.

   WHY DOES THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES CONTINUE ITS FAR LEFT WAYS?

   The World Council of Churches - which is supported whole-heartedly
by the National Council of Churches - continues its political bias and
its cash grants to communist-run, African terrorist groups like the
African National Congress and S.W.A.P.O. The World Council reaffirmed
its support for a number of Soviet-backed National Liberation
Movements. It blames the United States and President Reagan for the
blood-letting in Central America. It praised the Communist Nicaraguan
Revolution and belittled the government of El Salvador while once again
praising the Cuban-armed and Nicaraguan-aided insurgents who are trying
to take over El Salvador. It did everything but openly endorse the
communist invasion of Afghanistan.

   Is this the church of the Gospel? No, it is the Babylonian
counterfeit resulting from secular humanism in religion today.

   A.W.Tozer said that Christianity is so enmeshed in the world that
millions never guess how RADICALLY they have missed the New Testament
pattern. Compromise is everywhere. The world is whitewashed just enough
to pass inspection by blind men posing as believers. He continued, "We
have lost the art of worship; we are not producing saints. Our models
are successful businessmen, celebrated athletes, and theatrical
personalities. We carry on our religious activities after the methods
of the mofern advertiser. Our homes have been turned into theatres, our
literature is shallow, our humns boarder on sacrilege, and scarcely
anyone appears to care."

   He further said much that passes for New Testament Christianity is
little more than objective truth, sweetened with song and made
palatable through RELIGIOUS ENTERTAINMENT. Christ calls men to carry a
cross, but we call them to have fun in His name.

   SECULAR HUMANISM AND THE MORALS OF OUR NATION

   Teaching contraception to JUNIOR HIGH students in the Montgomery
County, Maryland, school system was officially approved by the County
Board of Education at a recent school board meeting. The program's goal
is to SUCCESSFULLY INSTRUCT COED CLASSES IN CONTRACEPTION! This class
is in addition to a sex educational program already established at both
the junior high and elementary levels.

   It is said the textbook chosen ia a "complete sex manual." It
advocates premarital sex, petting, homosexuality, and lesbianism, as
well as having five pages on the techniques of sexual intercourse and
the intimate details of contraception.

   the Maryland State Courts forced the Montgomery County school system
to take this book out of the schools, but it was again proposed as the
text for "possible use in a contraception course."

   The secular humanists promote sex education in our public schools,
stating that it will prevent premarital pregnancies, cut down on
venereal disease, and perhaps even decrease the number of divorces. Is
this true? What has happened in countries where compulsory sex
education has "enlightened and liberalized" the young people?

   In the seven years that followed the adoption of compulsory sex
education in Denmark in 1970, assaults and rapes rose by 300 percent
and venereal disease increased in those individuals over 20 years of
age by 200 percent. Among those between the ages of 16-20, it rose by
250 percent. And in those 15 years of age and younger, there was a 400
percent increase!

   Compulsory sex education was introduced in Sweden as far back as
1954 and today that nation has the highest VD rate in Europe and in the
world! Between 1968 and 1974, VD in mothers under 14 years of age
increased 900 percent. Between 1972 and 1974, rape increased 400
percent.

   This troubling situation has caused a group of doctors to petition
the King to abolish compulsory sex education in the Swedish schooly
system. It is considered to be "destructive to family life and the
moral stability of young people."

   Doctor Dennis L. Cuddy, Ph.D., said that sex education in American
schools often comes under a comprehensive health education program and,
in these programs, the word "health" is not usually defined as
including social well-being. Under this definition, the individual can
do whatever he or she chooses sexually with no external imposition of
any particular moral value.

   He went on to say, when Planned Parenthood began its programs in
Hawaii in 1970, the next seven years saw the incidence of prenuptial
pregnancies and of verereal infections almost triple.

   Robert Braun, Education Editor of the Newark Star-Ledger, has
described the situation this way: "Those who are concerned with the
problems of public school sex education are too often dismissed as
neurotic prudes, religious fanatics, or right-wing nuts - while the
purveyors of often bizarre ideas and materials are regarded as
enlightened educators whose advice should be pursued."

   When it is suggested that sex education must be accompanied by a
moral code, the response is that to teach morality violates the
separation of church and state. This, in effect, means we have a
value-free and value- less introduction to sex for young people. Where
does the problem lie? At one time parents introduced children to the
hidden mysteries of sex, and sex was placed in its proper perspective -
including the elements of innocence, ideals, and moral codes. Today we
are completely immersed in the humanistic approach.

   Of course, as any sane person realizes, you don't reduce the
problems associated with sex by making sexual terms, ideas, and
concepts part of the elememtary school curriculum. You don't promote
sex among young people - unless you have ulterior motives for wanting
young people to experiment with sex. Put sex in the Main Street store
windows, and, as sure as there are atheists in Moscow, KIDS ARE GOING
TO TRY IT! We've got sex in the Main Street windows today - and in the
schools, in movies, on TV, and in magazines - and kids are trying it.
They're ruining their lives because they're playing around with
dynamite when they shouldn't even be allowed to play with firecrackers!

   Sex education in our schools is not the solution to increased sexual
promiscuity among youth - it's the basic cause of the problem. And it
has been subversively spawned and generated by secular humanists. The
ultimate result is moral dissolution among our young people and a
complete repudiation of the traditional moral concepts that were the
strength of this nation.

   IN CONCLUSION

   We have only scratched the surface in the subject of forces and
influences that are today tearing American society apart. Secular
humanism is a religion. It's a relition that excludes God - fostered
and encouraged by Satan. It is committed to completely changing the
American way of life. It has come a long way toward achieving that goal.

   Secular humanism, commonly referred to as "liberalism," has chosen
to set its initial demolition charges among the foundations of this
nation - the church and the school. And like demonition companies that
topple those seemingly impregnable buildings in an instant, the
foundation is the key to collapsing the whole structure.

   If America doesn't come back to God, America is surely going to be
lost. I don't know if our modern educational system can be resurrected.
I'm not sure the modern Protestant church has enough substance to save
itself. It is so permeated with secular humanism that there seems to be
little hope - yet we know that the true God is a God of miracles.

   It only takes the loss of one generation to destroy a nation. And we
are seriously close to seeing this generation really destroyed. Nearly
half our homes are dissolving in the divorce courts - but still there
might be hope. The divorce rate does seem to be subsiding slightly. The
anti- God and anti-Bible feminist movement, despite its persistence, is
suffering defeat after defeat. Perhaps there is hope. The so-called Gay
Rights Movement is so degenerate it has imposed and incurable disease
called AIDS on the American public. As a result, straight America is
finally recoiling at the sordid perversion of this whole rat's nest of
animal lust. Christian schools teachign the fundamentals of the faith
are being started at the rate of two to three per day, as thinking
Americans realize they must get their children out of the public
schools. It would appear that there is a move of God in the land.

   The relentless drive of secular humanism - started a long time ago
in this nation - has traveled far toward its goals, but still things
seem to be turning around. The glimmer of hope is faint. The light on
the horizon is barely discernible; but instead of the sun setting, I
believe it is rising.

   It is time we Christians forget our doctrinal differences for a
moment and band together to demand certain things that must be brought
about:

   1. The Bible must be brought back into the classroom of our public
school system.

   2. All elements condemned by the Bible (perversions, homosexuality,
pre-marital sex, and so forth) must be condemned in our society.

   3. The Christian members of all churches across the land must demand
that the seminaries be thrown out and men who worship God be brought in
to replace them.

   There is hope - but only if we do something about the problems that
threaten to destroy us.

   Our problem today is: we have been silent too long! This nation does
not belong to atheism, it belongs to God! It doesn't belong to the
evolutionists, it belongs to the Creator! It doesn't belong to the
secular humanists, it belongs to the principles preached by Jesus
Christ! It doesn't belong to witchcraft or the occult, it belongs to
the Most High God of the Bible!

   THERE IS A PRICE

   The price is high but it must be paid. If it isn't paid, this once-
great nation will disappear. It will be taken over by communism because
it has rotted from within - and the cause of this rot will be secular
humanism with its countless tentacles that reach throughout all the
apparently innocent areas of society.

   If we fall, it will be because good men did nothing. There's still
time - but not much. There's still hope - but not much. There's still
the strength to do it - but not much.

   If we fail, the world will be thrown into a dark age that will make
the Middle Ages look like a period of enlightenment. We must not fail.
Our God is not a man; our future is not one of darkness. Our beginnings
were not as monkeys, and our life is not death. America's foundation
must not be secular humanism - it must be the old-fashioned precepts of
the Word of God! "If my people, which are called by my name, shall
humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn form their
wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land" (II Chronicles 7:14).
