Unclear & Present Danger: Humanism
4-Oct-12
I recently wrote an article about the pitfalls of political correctness (PC). How there’s an ignoring of the facts if they make us uncomfortable. Then natural consequences unfold & people are left wondering what’s going on. Case & point: the recent situation in the Middle East. However, this situation is further complicated by another problem that is affecting our culture – humanism. This works hand-in-hand with PC & while it has many aspects, the underlying theme is the equalization of all humanity. To some this may seem noble, until you examine the implications of its practical application.
To equalize everyone, you must minimize any significant differences. Things like roles, borders & individuality are perceived as barriers & must be dismantled & redefined. So you have to employ PC language about equality, rights, fairness, tolerance & unity based upon a new and greatly skewed understanding of them. To avoid being blatantly demeaning, a facade of lip service is to be maintained to each area that is de-legitimized. Things that aren’t really great, you prop up; things that are great, you pull down. Then whether something’s great or not, you have to deny what contributed to its condition (factual negligence). When dissenters try to hold to their identity, you must either ignore, vilify or squash them. And when the self-inflicted problems of humanism arise, you simply blame the perceived barriers for disrupting progress.
In a necessary breach of PC, we must start understanding the role religion plays in world politics -including the role of a humanistic belief-system. Humanists believe other religions (competition) should be shallow, private & publicly impractical (maybe even claiming such a version themselves). But that doesn’t mean people with other beliefs feel the same.
Throughout 2011, there was cascading turmoil in multiple Arabic nations as protesters sought to topple their governments. PC figureheads told us it had to be the desire for democracy & freedom from oppressive regimes. Yet, others were warning of coordinated efforts by a radical international group called the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) which seemed more befitting of the synchronized timing. (Note that humanistic PC forbids utterances of such a name.) And of late, anti-American protests erupted almost simultaneously in those same regions & beyond where US embassies & a military base were attacked. The Administration & select news agencies were initially blaming a horrible video (though it was released months earlier) for sparking the supposed spontaneous events. And others were again pointing to the unified efforts of radical Islamic groups like the anti-American MB (on 9/11). After it became embarrassingly obvious, the State Department finally conceded there were terrorist motives.
This is where we need to constructively discuss Islam. Like other religions, it has ideas about government & law. There is teaching of a global government called a Caliphate which rules by Sharia Law & is quite different from American democracy. While not all Muslims are militant or anti-American, there are influential sects like MB & al-Qaida which strategically use extreme measures to fulfill such teachings. The latter by overt terrorism; the former by covert opportunism –with certain overlap. The attacks weren’t random, but a consistent effort to oust Western influence. This is not a call to free our land of Muslims, but to free us from the naivety of humanism.
Such naïve wishful thinking is dangerous when it comes to national defense, foreign policy, border security & dealing with Iranian leaders seeking to eliminate true democracies. But then again, humanism has no regard for maintaining America’s superpower status. Domestically, roles of states, families, genders & individuals are being marginalized by humanism. What results is a slurry of lost identity that robs mankind of the dignity, distinction & duty which God had bestowed on us.
In these uncertain times, we especially need to be careful who we listen to –even search out this information yourself. Ask yourself what makes sense. And remember to pay special attention to facts & to what people are doing rather than their specifically tuned language. In a similar vein, Jesus says “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” (Mt 7.15-16)
To equalize everyone, you must minimize any significant differences. Things like roles, borders & individuality are perceived as barriers & must be dismantled & redefined. So you have to employ PC language about equality, rights, fairness, tolerance & unity based upon a new and greatly skewed understanding of them. To avoid being blatantly demeaning, a facade of lip service is to be maintained to each area that is de-legitimized. Things that aren’t really great, you prop up; things that are great, you pull down. Then whether something’s great or not, you have to deny what contributed to its condition (factual negligence). When dissenters try to hold to their identity, you must either ignore, vilify or squash them. And when the self-inflicted problems of humanism arise, you simply blame the perceived barriers for disrupting progress.
In a necessary breach of PC, we must start understanding the role religion plays in world politics -including the role of a humanistic belief-system. Humanists believe other religions (competition) should be shallow, private & publicly impractical (maybe even claiming such a version themselves). But that doesn’t mean people with other beliefs feel the same.
Throughout 2011, there was cascading turmoil in multiple Arabic nations as protesters sought to topple their governments. PC figureheads told us it had to be the desire for democracy & freedom from oppressive regimes. Yet, others were warning of coordinated efforts by a radical international group called the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) which seemed more befitting of the synchronized timing. (Note that humanistic PC forbids utterances of such a name.) And of late, anti-American protests erupted almost simultaneously in those same regions & beyond where US embassies & a military base were attacked. The Administration & select news agencies were initially blaming a horrible video (though it was released months earlier) for sparking the supposed spontaneous events. And others were again pointing to the unified efforts of radical Islamic groups like the anti-American MB (on 9/11). After it became embarrassingly obvious, the State Department finally conceded there were terrorist motives.
This is where we need to constructively discuss Islam. Like other religions, it has ideas about government & law. There is teaching of a global government called a Caliphate which rules by Sharia Law & is quite different from American democracy. While not all Muslims are militant or anti-American, there are influential sects like MB & al-Qaida which strategically use extreme measures to fulfill such teachings. The latter by overt terrorism; the former by covert opportunism –with certain overlap. The attacks weren’t random, but a consistent effort to oust Western influence. This is not a call to free our land of Muslims, but to free us from the naivety of humanism.
Such naïve wishful thinking is dangerous when it comes to national defense, foreign policy, border security & dealing with Iranian leaders seeking to eliminate true democracies. But then again, humanism has no regard for maintaining America’s superpower status. Domestically, roles of states, families, genders & individuals are being marginalized by humanism. What results is a slurry of lost identity that robs mankind of the dignity, distinction & duty which God had bestowed on us.
In these uncertain times, we especially need to be careful who we listen to –even search out this information yourself. Ask yourself what makes sense. And remember to pay special attention to facts & to what people are doing rather than their specifically tuned language. In a similar vein, Jesus says “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” (Mt 7.15-16)
~Below is additional information that was not included in the original article~
I (Jesus) am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. - Mt 10.16
Political figures & media who are influenced by humanistic philosophy sometimes believe that if they say something enough that it will eventually come to fruition. And to some degree that is true - that is the objective of propaganda - to lead people in a certain direction. However, problems arise when such propaganda is based on falsehood. So the problem with humanist tactics is twofold: naivety in thinking others will succumb to shallow & unfounded propaganda; and also arrogance in thinking their position has the authority to supersede that of others.
On the other hand, if propaganda seeks to lead people against their ideological principles (good or bad), they will not take the bait. With respect to radical groups like the MB or Iranian leadership, they will not succumb to humanistic propaganda or negotiations because they are motivated by ideological principles (though severely flawed). People will not really change unless their ideologies change (Mt 23.35-26).
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. - Col 2.8
But the humanists have taken great pains to disassociate terrorism from all things Islam, hence the reason they cannot speak the name "Muslim Brotherhood" & use ISIL instead of "Islamic State". They say that Islam is a "religion of peace" & is "tolerant" which is propaganda to both persuade Muslims to be peaceful & to convince everyone else that there's nothing to fear. But apparently there is reason for concern because innocent people keep dying. This is not "Islamaphobia" as the humanists would have you believe, but rather a realistic evaluation of the situation. If you can't acknowledge the problem, you can't find solutions – nor can you protect against threats that are ignored.
Now, I want to be clear that I do not believe all Muslims are radical extremists or war-mongers. And we should be polite, friendly & loving towards everyone we meet, regardless of their beliefs (Mk 12.29, 30, 31). Like any religion, there is a broad spectrum of adherence to & interpretation of beliefs from person to person & region to region. However, we shouldn't be naive in thinking that no Islamic sects are dangerous. Many Muslims are truly peaceful, but some are not. A careful understanding of Islamic scriptures & history show there is reason for caution. But I also want to be clear that I in no way, shape or form condone the video "Innocence of Muslims" produced by Nakoula Basseley Nakoula - I in fact condemn it. And though the producer is allegedly a Christian, his behavior is suspect & not representative of Christian teaching (Mt 7.21-23).
I (Jesus) am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. - Mt 10.16
Political figures & media who are influenced by humanistic philosophy sometimes believe that if they say something enough that it will eventually come to fruition. And to some degree that is true - that is the objective of propaganda - to lead people in a certain direction. However, problems arise when such propaganda is based on falsehood. So the problem with humanist tactics is twofold: naivety in thinking others will succumb to shallow & unfounded propaganda; and also arrogance in thinking their position has the authority to supersede that of others.
On the other hand, if propaganda seeks to lead people against their ideological principles (good or bad), they will not take the bait. With respect to radical groups like the MB or Iranian leadership, they will not succumb to humanistic propaganda or negotiations because they are motivated by ideological principles (though severely flawed). People will not really change unless their ideologies change (Mt 23.35-26).
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. - Col 2.8
But the humanists have taken great pains to disassociate terrorism from all things Islam, hence the reason they cannot speak the name "Muslim Brotherhood" & use ISIL instead of "Islamic State". They say that Islam is a "religion of peace" & is "tolerant" which is propaganda to both persuade Muslims to be peaceful & to convince everyone else that there's nothing to fear. But apparently there is reason for concern because innocent people keep dying. This is not "Islamaphobia" as the humanists would have you believe, but rather a realistic evaluation of the situation. If you can't acknowledge the problem, you can't find solutions – nor can you protect against threats that are ignored.
Now, I want to be clear that I do not believe all Muslims are radical extremists or war-mongers. And we should be polite, friendly & loving towards everyone we meet, regardless of their beliefs (Mk 12.29, 30, 31). Like any religion, there is a broad spectrum of adherence to & interpretation of beliefs from person to person & region to region. However, we shouldn't be naive in thinking that no Islamic sects are dangerous. Many Muslims are truly peaceful, but some are not. A careful understanding of Islamic scriptures & history show there is reason for caution. But I also want to be clear that I in no way, shape or form condone the video "Innocence of Muslims" produced by Nakoula Basseley Nakoula - I in fact condemn it. And though the producer is allegedly a Christian, his behavior is suspect & not representative of Christian teaching (Mt 7.21-23).
Below is some insightful information that is usually screened out by humanistic political correctness:
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On 9/14/12, a memorial service was held at Andrews Air Force Base for the 4 Americans who died in the attacks in Benghazi, Libya.
Muslim Brotherhood Creed:
"Allah is our objective; the Quran is our law, the Prophet is our leader; Jihad (religious war) is our way; and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations." |
Thus, it is important to pray for our government & military leaders to have wisdom & discernment - no matter their political persuasion. Also important, is for us to elect people who understand the issues & are not naively humanistic. Per the verse below, the implication is that those in authority have an effect on our ability to live peaceful lives - though everything is ultimately subject to God's sovereignty. Hence the need of prayer for them.
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. - 1 Tim 2.1-2
It's also important to understand that the most essential need of every person - including the most ardent humanist & the most hardened terrorist - is to have their sins forgiven so they can have peace with God. This is possible because God put on flesh & became a man, Jesus Christ, in order to live a perfect life, yet die as the only perfect sacrifice for our sins. No sin is too great - except the sin of unbelief (Mt 12.31).
And apart from putting your full faith in Christ to save you, it is impossible to know God or submit to His perfect will (Rom 8.7-8, Heb 11.6). Find out more in the links to the related pages below.
It's also important to understand that the most essential need of every person - including the most ardent humanist & the most hardened terrorist - is to have their sins forgiven so they can have peace with God. This is possible because God put on flesh & became a man, Jesus Christ, in order to live a perfect life, yet die as the only perfect sacrifice for our sins. No sin is too great - except the sin of unbelief (Mt 12.31).
And apart from putting your full faith in Christ to save you, it is impossible to know God or submit to His perfect will (Rom 8.7-8, Heb 11.6). Find out more in the links to the related pages below.
Related Pages
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Additional Resources
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Paul Meets Muhammad: A Christian-Muslim Debate on the Resurrection Imagine a crowded arena full of Christians, Muslims, and curious onlookers packed in to hear the outcome of one of the greatest debates in all of history. If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, Christianity is false. But if Jesus was resurrected, Christianity is true and Islam is false. The stakes are high. Paul Meets Muhammad imagines a futuristic face-off between two religious heavyweights, each speaking on the validity of their doctrines, forming arguments and rebuttals while citing evidence from the Qur'an and the Gospel accounts. Intriguing and entertaining, this page-turner uniquely offers a comprehensive defense of Jesus's resurrection and of Christianity itself. |
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