Smoky Mountain Reflections #171
Who
is your God? Comparative religion classes on university campuses lack analyses
of some belief systems that therefore avoid being studied critically. While not
normally referred to as “religions”, they should be addressed because they,
just like all other religions, have an ultimate authority and a system of
beliefs driving their worldviews. Here are four ‘belief systems’ which I think
should be added to the studied list and a summarization of their beliefs as I see
them.
Atheism
is the belief that there is no God. It follows naturally then, that the atheist
views himself as the ultimate source
of authority in his own world; functionally speaking, his own god. Psalm 14:1
says “The
fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are
vile; there is no one who does good.” (It would be logical to celebrate
Atheist day on April 1st.) J
Secular Humanism embraces human reason, ethics, and philosophical naturalism
while specifically rejecting religious dogma, supernaturalism, pseudoscience,
and superstition as the basis of morality and decision making. To a secular
humanist, the ultimate source of authority is the collective goodness of
mankind. Therefore, one can logically deduce that functionally speaking, in
this view, mankind is the benevolent
god of the universe. This, however, is a fantasy. World history flies in the
face of the idea that mankind is capable of moral decision-making. Romans 3:23 tells us “all have sinned and fallen short
of the Glory of God.”
Scientism is
the belief in the universal applicability of the scientific method and
approach, and the view that empirical science constitutes the most
authoritative worldview or the most valuable part of human learning, to the
exclusion of other viewpoints. To someone who holds to this view, the scientific process is god. In the not-so-famous
words of Esqulieto of the movie Nacho Libre, “I believe in science”.
Similar to eastern mysticism, one can hold one or all three of the aforementioned views simultaneously, and since they each have logical inconsistencies, they can all occupy the same mind and not be concerned enough with each other to cause any conflict. We then come to the last on my list today.
Similar to eastern mysticism, one can hold one or all three of the aforementioned views simultaneously, and since they each have logical inconsistencies, they can all occupy the same mind and not be concerned enough with each other to cause any conflict. We then come to the last on my list today.
Agnosticism is the view that the truth of certain claims – especially
metaphysical and religious claims such as whether God, the divine, or the
supernatural exist – are unknown and perhaps unknowable. This position sits on
the fence between theism and atheism. It expresses skepticism, but is not
foolish enough to assert atheism because logic, history, and truth demand the
existence of a god.
Most
other religions claim the existence of one or more gods or at least some form
of divine consciousness, and are therefore addressed in comparative religion
classes. Let me conclude with this thought: Christianity rests on the evidence
of real events testified to by witnesses who saw the risen Lord. Many of them
gave their lives rather than deny that witness and thousands of copies were
made of their firsthand accounts. The truth of the Bible’s claims are affirmed
by the findings of history, archeology, and science, and the unique nature of
that truth is this: the goal of the individual in non-Christian belief systems
is to get themselves to whatever their
version of god is, while the metanarrative of Holy Scripture is how God came to you in the person and work
of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of redeeming you to Himself. He is the only
way, not one among many. "I am the way, and the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Have a blessed summer
In Christ,
Pastor Portier
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