I have copied the statements of the Humanist Manifesto from the web
site called Infidels.org. It was published in 1933, and signed by Edwin
Wilson and a number of other so-called intellectuals. The titles of those
who signed the document included men who held positions at Harvard University,
Cornell University, the ScrippsHoward Newspaper Company, the Unitarian
Church, the Universalist Church, and other organizations.
I have attempted to make a brief presentation of them here:
First: Religious humanists regard the universe as self-existing and not
created.
Second: Humanism believes that man is a part of nature and that he has
emerged as the result of a continuous process.
Third: Holding an organic view of life, humanists find that the traditional
dualism of mind and body must be rejected.
Fourth: Humanism recognizes that man's religious culture and civilization
… are the product of a gradual development due to his interaction with
his natural environment and with his social heritage.
Fifth: Humanism asserts that the nature of the universe depicted by modern
science makes unacceptable any supernatural … guarantees of human values.
… Religion must formulate its hopes and plans in the light of the scientific
spirit and method.
Sixth: We are convinced that the time has passed for theism …
Seventh: Religion consists of those actions, purposes, and experiences
which are humanly significant. … The distinction between the sacred and
the secular can no longer be maintained.
Eighth: Religious humanism considers the complete realization of human
personality to be the end of man's life and seeks its development and
fulfillment in the here and now.
Ninth: In place of the old attitudes involved in worship and prayer the
humanist finds his religious emotions expressed in a heightened sense
of personal life and in a cooperative effort to promote social well-being.
Tenth: It follows that there will be no uniquely religious emotions and
attitudes of the kind hitherto associated with belief in the supernatural.
Eleventh: Man will learn to face the crises of life in terms of his knowledge
of their naturalness and probability. Reasonable and manly attitudes
will be fostered by education and supported by custom. We assume that
humanism will take the path of social and mental hygiene and discourage
sentimental and unreal hopes and wishful thinking.
Twelfth: Believing that religion must work increasingly for joy in living,
religious humanists aim to foster the creative in man and to encourage
achievements that add to the satisfactions of life.
Thirteenth: Religious humanism maintains that all associations and institutions
exist for the fulfillment of human life. … Certainly religious institutions
… must be reconstituted as rapidly as experience allows, in order to
function effectively in the modern world.
Fourteenth: The humanists are firmly convinced that existing … profit-motivated
society has shown itself to be inadequate … The goal of humanism is a
free and universal society in which people voluntarily and intelligently
cooperate for the common good. Humanists demand a shared life in a shared
world.
Fifteenth and last: We assert that humanism will … endeavor to establish
the conditions of a satisfactory life for all, not merely for the few.
From the publishing of the Humanist Manifesto in 1933 until now there has been
a consistent move toward the idea that man and the world evolved, that prayer
and Bible study have no place in society, that there are no absolute truths,
and that each person has the right to decide for himself what is right or wrong.
From these philosophies our society has degenerated into a selfish place where
all authority is questioned, where God no longer has a place, and where gambling,
immorality, homosexuality, pornography, abortion, and euthanasia have become
acceptable ideas. The manifestation of violence has become more and more pronounced
as every man does what is right in his own eyes.
What would Jesus say about all of this?
John 8:
31 "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Jesus said that freedom comes from knowing the truth, with the emphasis
upon abiding in the Word of God. Emphatically, Jesus believed the Word
of God to be TRUTH! I believe it is implied that there is spiritual,
mental, emotional, physical, and financial freedom which is found in
knowing the truth of God’s Word.
The dictionary defines truth as a FACT or an ACTUALITY. Something that
is true now will have been true 2000 years ago, today, and 2000 years
in the future. Truth is not a changing commodity. What is in fact, true,
will be true to you and it will be true to me. If two truths disagree
… something is false!
When Satan tempted Eve in the Garden, he assaulted the character of
God by saying that God lied! Satan knew the foundation of all freedom
was in men and women who would believe God spoke the truth. Read what
Satan said to Eve,
Gen 3:4-5
4 "You will not surely die.
5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened,
and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
From that time until now Satan has not changed his tactics! Can you
hear Satan’s three lies that are being told even today?
1. “Regardless of what God says … God’s judgment will not come.”
2. “You will have more, know more, and enjoy more when your eyes are
opened and you stop listening to God.”
3. “You are a better judge of what is right or wrong for you more than
God.”
The greatest antidote to a lie is the truth. The only way to maintain
your self in the truth is to continually immerse yourself in the truth!
Read it, think it, pray it, and sing it! The Apostle Paul declared that
we need to have the whole armor of God and the first item of armor he
described was TRUTH!
Eph 6
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth …
Our “garments” are held together with Truth! Someone was describing
a young man at Wal-Mart as being in an embarrassing situation. The young
man was wearing his oversized pants in a “stylish” manner … hanging well
below his hips … and was carrying two large bags of groceries. As he
walked his pants began to slide down his hips, so he was walking with
his legs spread widely apart in order to hold them up. He should have
had a belt which could have been buckled snuggly around his waist!
Truth is like that! Without truth our life is embarrassing and we walk
funny! We accept lies, we give lies, we live lies, we promote lies …
and life eventually becomes embarrassingly empty. People often attempt
to make up for the embarrassment with living “over the top” with something
to salve their lack … alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, or obsessions of
other sorts.
Another part of the armor is the weapon we are to wield against Satan
is called a sword of the Spirit:
Eph 6
17 … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
The Word of God is Truth in our hands and Truth in our lips. The Truth
will overcome a lie every time! The power of the truth is immense! It
may not always seem apparent … but when you hold to the truth … the truth
will win.
Paul told us all ….
Phil 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things
are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue
and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.
Have truth in your mind! Make sure it’s noble, and just, and pure,
and lovely, of a good report, and virtuous, and praiseworthy! And meditate
… think about these things!
There was someone several years ago who attempted to tell me something
that he held as true, but it didn’t add up in the Scripture. He challenge
me to have an open mind! My response was that I did have an open mind
… but I had a filter on it … the Word of God! If someone’s “truth” doesn’t
make it through the filter of the Word of God … then it is a lie!
Jesus prayed for us.
John 17
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
He asked the Father to sanctify us, which means we are to set us apart
and made pleasing to God. And the method of being set apart for God is
to be awash in the Truth!
Who do we want to please? The world? The opinions of others? Ourselves?
Or God.
I believe the Bible is the True Word of God. There is a definite right
or wrong, a truth or a lie. There is a Savior, Jesus Christ, who provides
forgiveness for our sins. There is a day of judgment when all those who
have ignored Jesus and his offer of forgiveness will be held eternally
accountable. These things are presented as truth from the Word of God.
If you have not found Christ as your Savior … please do so today!
John 14
6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through Me.
Also ….Today there will be a gathering of people on the highways and
streets of America. These are people who believe in the truth that every
child is important to God and that every child deserves the opportunity
of life. They will be holding signs which say, “Abortion Kills.” Is that
a truth … or is it a lie?
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