Secularism is defined as the indifference to or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations. Secularism seems to be a growing cultural philosophy in our country today, a belief that our society should be based strictly upon the physical world, science, pure rationalization. We’ve seen political and judicial candidates challenged to not allow religious beliefs to impact their decisions. Secularists believe religion is for simple-minded individuals who are hiding from the facts, hiding from their world assessment that’s based strictly upon facts alone.

Secularism is materialistic and naturalistic, limiting reality to what can be tested scientifically. But secularism alone cannot explain the substance of what it is to be human. What evolutionary process could have caused the formation of the appreciation and enjoyment of beauty? Likewise, how does science explain the human characteristics of joy, sacrificial love, honor, peace, hope within pain, certitude, virtue, compassion, mercy? What is the scientific basis for human equality, human rights? Even German Jurgen Habermas, an avowed Secularist and Pragmatist, stated, “The ideals of freedom … conscience, human rights and democracy are a direct legacy of the Judaic ethic of justice and Christian love.”

In a purely secularistic culture, what provides the moral restraints to protect society from the misuse of science and technology? What teaches brotherly love? Or the meaning and purpose of life? Secularism alone cannot provide the basis for sacrifice, redemption and forgiveness. How could the United States have ever become a country without declaring the inalienable rights that serve as the foundation for the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution provided by Christian traditions? And in a naturalist world, wouldn’t we all just basically be cosmically irrelevant?

Scientific knowledge alone is inapplicable to the central aspects of what it is to be human. Secularism robs hope and solace that people so profoundly need. Secularism by itself is inhuman.