Imagine a world devoid of vision, hearing, or expression--a terribly bleak place in which the whole world in general is unreliable and dangerous. Without help from an unseen protector, the citizens of this world would be rendered completely defenseless. Such is the world of people such as Hellen Keller, perhaps the most iconic picture of a physically disabled human being success story. However, the vulnerability of her situation, no matter how well she overcame it, was dangerous because the reality of the physical world was unavailable to her through any normal means, like sight or hearing. Secular Humanists, however, apply this concept to philosophy. However, there are major problems with this way of thinking in the areas of reality, truth, and knowledge.
Secular Humanism adheres to naturalism, also known as materialism. Naturalism states that reality is composed solely of matter and that all phenomena can be explained in terms of natural causes. This theory automatically denies the existence of anything supernatural, from a mind or heart (as opposed to a physical brain), to God. Secular Humanism also holds to Man's constant evolution. The major problem with this view of reality is that it restricts what is real to physical matter in such a dogmatic way that allows nobody to even consider God's existence. Therefore, what happens when things go wrong within matter, such as diseases in the human body? Acknowledging matter as the sole reality portrays reality as flawed and in a constant physical decline. This brings up a contradiction against Secular Humanism's other main argument--evolution, which argues that we are only improving as organisms through random, physical mutations within the genetic matter of an organism. Even then, mutations can still end up hurting an organism genetically more than helping it--that is why they are called mutations. They are unpredictable, and typically mistakes. In addition, "Naturalists are especially unwilling to believe in a universe that exudes too much design because this design could be construed as evidence for a Designer. The naturalist cannot accept a Designer or a personal First Cause" (Noebel 102). Naturalists' unwillingness to believe in the existence of the supernatural simultaneously implies that there is another alternative (belief in the supernatural) that requires no more faith (willingness to believe in it) than Naturalism.
Naturalism's fundamental idea of truth follows along these lines: Mankind is continually evolving with other organisms without the aid of God (He does not exist); therefore, truth is limited to what can be scientifically, and "objectively" observed through matter. The problem with this approach to truth is that matter is unfeeling; it is dead, and can therefore be manipulated as a part of the nonliving environment. Or, if dealing in terms of science, objective data can still be skewed by the input of false information, the usage of which may be intentional or completely accidental. Truth can be manipulated to create the "objective truth" one wants to be able to see. In a world made of matter, the spirit of truth and true morality is lost in favor of cold scientific formality. Such a view of truth is in danger of becoming subjective rather than objective, and losing any credit as a foundation for any kind of theory. This is especially dangerous for Secular Humanism and Naturalism, as the basic tenets of these philosophies advocate a totally objective worldview. In response to Naturalism's view of truth, it is best for the Christian to rely on Christ's words in John 14:6--that He is the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life.
In the area of knowledge, Naturalists some other specific problems that arise from their interpretation of what our theory of knowledge (epistemology) should be. Their epistemology also reaches out to the discipline of their metaphysics. The first of these problems arises from the depth of Naturalism's passion for and adherence to science and evolution as Man's key to the future. For instance, David Noebel statest hat "belief in science as the ultimate means to knowledge (truth) requires as much faith as belief in the existenc e and truth of the supernatural." He goes on to quote Carl Sagan, a Naturalist/Secular Humanist, who "announced, '[S]cience has itself become a kind of religion'" (Noebel 104). Furthermore, Victor J. Stenger, when discussing the human evolution into a "higher consciousness", decides that "Perhaps, as part of this new consciousness, we will become God" (Noebel 105). Naturalism's borderline-religious exaltation of science and evolution "precludes the existence of knowledge about anything supernatural" (Noebel 104), yet the deep devotion with which Naturalism attends to the scientific world is simply a misplaced effort to find the God we all know exists. Another flaw with the Naturalists' approach to knowledge is their simultaneous acceptance of Man's progress (evolution) and road to our own form of scientific godhood, as Stenger pointed out. If Man is always evolving, then he is obviously flawed to begin with. There is no area of his life in which he exempt from possible improvement. Therefore, postulating that Man may someday evolve into the god of his own life is a contradiction, because God is supposed to be perfect and holy. The next problem posed to Naturalism's view of knowledge is the Mind/Body Problem, "which asks Does the mind exist solely within nature, just as the body does, or is the mind more than matter?" (Noebedl 104). The mind, Naturalism would argue, is what we use to comprehend the physical world. Logically following, then, the mind must be a form of existence that exists outside of the physical realm, in order that it can teach us things about matter. Physical matter can never be understood by another piece of physical matter, as Naturalism states the mind is. Rather,Naturalism's views, if true, would simply lead to confusion and a perpetual lack of knowledge.
Referring back to our Hellen Keller example, Naturalism's physical "reality" turns out to be invisible and nearly useless. This is exactly why the Christian worldview is correct in contrast to Naturalism. While it acknowledges that Man is stumbling about in a physical world, Christianity does not claim evolution as they key to escape our ignorance. It calls upon the invisible Hand of a supernatural God Who exists outside of the physical realm, and Who sustains our mind and body. Just like how Hellen Keller learned how to function and deal with the world by the aid of people she could only trust and not see, in the same way Mankind must learn to trust God and His sovereignty to guide him through life when the material world and science lose their usefulness.
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