Secular humanism is a worldview and philosophy that centers around human reason, ethics, and justice while rejecting religious dogma, supernaturalism, and superstition. According to the Bible, secular humanism runs contrary to God’s commands and biblical principles in a number of ways.
Secular Humanism Rejects Biblical Truths
A core tenet of secular humanism is disbelief in the supernatural and reliance on science, reason and experience to guide ethical decision making. This directly contradicts biblical teachings that point to God as the source of absolute truth and morals.
The Bible makes clear that truth comes from God, not human understanding (Proverbs 1:7, Isaiah 55:8-9). Additionally, the Bible reveals God as the standard for morality, not individual human reason (Psalm 119:160, Matthew 5:48). By rejecting biblical revelation, secular humanists set their own standards of truth and morality. Scripture warns against following the inclinations of the sinful human heart rather than God’s commands (Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 8:7).
Secular Humanism Advocates Moral Relativism
Secular humanism teaches that ethics and values are relative, dependent on circumstances and human preferences. This contradicts the Bible’s claims that moral truth comes from the absolute authority of a holy God.
The book of Judges depicts a time when “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6, 21:25). This led to moral confusion and corruption in Israel. In contrast, Psalm 119:160 declares “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” God’s moral commands apply to all people in all times.
Secular humanists may intend to promote kindness and justice. However, without anchoring ethics in biblical truth, standards can shift according to cultural trends. The Bible provides a fixed ethical foundation.
Secular Humanism Rejects Human Sinfulness
Secular humanismgenerally has an optimistic view of human nature and downplays the concept of sin. But Scripture teaches that humans are born with a sinful nature (Psalm 51:5). Without reconciling with God, people tend to act out of selfish motives (Galatians 5:19-21).
While people have attributes like reason, morality and dignity, the Bible says sin corrupts human inclinations apart from God (John 2:25, Romans 3:9-20). Secular notions of righteousness apart from Christ fall short of God’s perfect holiness. Humanistic ideals of human virtue and wisdom can lead to pride when not understanding human sinfulness before a holy God (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).
Secular Humanism Promotes Salvation by Works
Secular humanism sees self-realization and doing good to others as the goal of life. Some see the purpose of life being making the world a better place through human effort. But the Bible teaches that no one earns salvation or life with God by doing good works (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5).
Only through God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice can the gulf between sinful humans and the perfect Creator be bridged (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 3:18). Life with God comes not by righteous deeds but by grace received through faith alone. A humanistic view of salvation by doing good can lead to pride and blind people to their need for forgiveness through Christ.
Secular Humanism Champions Human Autonomy
Secular humanism exalts human reason and ability. This mindset was reflected at the building of the Tower of Babel, where human pride drove people to lift themselves above God rather than submit to him (Genesis 11:1-9). Self-exaltation over spiritual humility continues today.
In contrast, the Bible advocates a worldview centered around submitting human lives—in all their facets and spheres—to the wise plans of the Creator. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” instructs Proverbs 3:5. Exalting human autonomy over God’s direction is risky, flawed thinking according to biblical revelation.
Secular Humanism Downplays Life After Death
Secular humanism focuses on temporal life and ethics more than eternity. But biblical revelation gives extensive information about the afterlife, including heaven and hell. Jesus certainly had an eternal perspective, speaking about the next life more than anyone else in Scripture.
The Bible writers present life on earth as a vapor compared to eternity (James 4:14). Biblical saints endured trials knowing their present sufferings were insignificant compared to the glory to come (Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:17). Secular humanism’s here-and-now focus reveals a markedly different perspective than Jesus and his disciples.
Secular Humanism Rejects Christ’s Exclusivity
As a philosophy embracing scientific rationalism and egalitarian ethics, secular humanism balks at Christianity’s claim that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. The Bible repeatedly states that faith in Christ is the sole path to heaven. “Salvation is found in no one else” declares Acts 4:12.
Postmodern secularism downplays all exclusive truth claims. But Jesus’ own words leave no room for compromise: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). God’s revealed word contradicts the humanistic idea of many paths to eternal life.
Secular Humanism Opposes Biblical Sexual Ethics
Flowing from moral relativism, secular humanists generally reject biblical prohibitions restricting sexual behavior. Humanist declarations advocate for “the right to birth control, abortion and divorce” and “the civil dignity of both heterosexual and homosexual relationships.”
Scripture, in contrast, honors the sanctity of sex within the marriage covenant between one man and woman (Hebrews 13:4). The Bible condemns premarital sex, adultery, homosexual relations, and other forms of sexual immorality which violate God’s good designs for intimacy (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19). Humanistic views on sexuality clearly contradict biblical standards.
Secular Humanism Embraces Anti-Supernaturalism
Secular humanism embraces rationalism and empiricism, rejecting the supernatural and miracles. But the Bible records numerous miraculous events as integral to God’s relationship with mankind. Parting the Red Sea, Joshua stopping the sun, virgin birth, walking on water, resurrection from the dead—Scripture records miracles as factual events with eyewitnesses.
Secular notions of naturalism cannot accommodate God’s demonstrated power to suspend the laws of nature to accomplish his sovereign purposes on earth. Reason and science alone cannot access the supernatural realm revealed in the Bible.
Secular Humanism Advocates Evolutionism
Secular humanism embraces Darwinian evolution to explain the origins of human life. But biblical creation presents a very different picture of humanity uniquely bearing God’s image, along with explicit details of God’s direct creative acts (Genesis 1-2). Theistic evolution attempts to merge these, but core doctrines like original sin depend on literal creation accounts.
Evolution sees sickness, death and survival struggles preceding humanity. But God’s original “very good” creation (Genesis 1:31) did not include death before Adam’s fall brought sin into the world (Romans 5:12). The Bible simply does not align with macroevolution’s long ages of suffering and death before civilization arose.
Secular Humanism Promotes Collectivism
Secular humanism tends to elevate community and society over the individual. But Scripture honors personal accountability before God alongside corporate responsibility. Nowhere does the Bible advocate totalitarian authority of the state. Instead it promotes personal liberty situated within social duties (Galatians 5:1, Romans 13:1-7).
The book of Judges depicts the moral anarchy of Israel when “everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 21:25). But unrestrained individualism has its own problems. Biblical revelation ultimately points to the church as the community where virtue can be pursued both personally and collectively (1 Corinthians 12:4-31).
Secular Humanism Champions Progressivism
Secular humanism embraces social progress driven by human initiative and ingenuity. But absent humble submission to the Creator, this mindset easily leads to utopianism, as humans attempt to usher in heaven on earth. Fallen mankind’s progress inevitably falls far short of perfection.
The Bible advocates social concern and justice grounded in spiritual reality (Isaiah 58:6-12, Micah 6:8). But human tendencies toward pride and power mean secular progressivism alone will not lead to true human flourishing. Lasting change comes when hearts and structures yield to Christ’s lordship. He is the hope for fallen creation.
Secular Humanism Mandates State Education
Public schooling designed to indoctrinate youth into secular humanist ideology is at odds with parents instructing children in biblical truth. Scripture gives parents authority and duty to educate in godliness, not the state (Proverbs 1:8, Ephesians 6:4).
Widespread required schooling promoting anti-biblical worldviews raises troubling questions about parental rights concerning children’s education. Christians recognize that instruction aimed at conforming kids’ views to secular culture often conflicts with a biblical worldview.
Secular Humanism Breeds Materialism
In secular society, consumerism and identity rooted in possessions tend to replace eternal priorities. But Jesus frequently warned against materialism that could distract people from kingdom living (Matthew 6:19-21, Luke 12:15). Paul, too, warned against those whose “god is their belly” (Philippians 3:19).
A humanistic focus on tangible rewards like wealth and status loses sight of lasting spiritual rewards. People easily become greedy and envious when human achievement, not God, becomes the highest pursuit. Scripture’s insistence on denying worldly lusts sits squarely opposed to secular materialism and consumerism.
Secular Humanism Masquerades as Wisdom
Secularhumanist proponents portray it as a modern, educated worldview embracing truth and human progress. However, the person without biblical perspective is described in Scripture as a fool, regardless of earthly credentials (Psalm 14:1, 1 Corinthians 3:19).
The fear of the Lord—not the wisdom of the age—constitutes true knowledge according to Scripture (Proverbs 1:7). As a philosophy exalting human understanding above God, secular humanism is exposed as arrogance when held up to biblical revelation. Claiming enlightenment apart from submission to the Creator rings hollow.
Secular Humanism Omits Divine Judgment
With rare exceptions like transhumanism, secular humanism shows little concern for final divine judgment. By mostly discounting eternal consequences, it allows more room for subjective ethics in the here and now. But Christ and Scripture speak frequently of God’s impending judgment whereby all will give account (Matthew 12:36, Romans 14:12, Revelation 20:11-15).
Without a coming day of reckoning, people can more freely rationalize sinful choices. Scripture offers no such loophole; mortal lives are treated as bearing eternal significance. Secular humanism’s lack of ultimate accountability proves it cannot be trusted as a righteous guide.
Secular Humanism Minimizes Spiritual Reality
While supernatural beliefs are widely held, secular humanism posits the material world as the primary plane of human existence. But the Bible presents the earthly realm as only part of a larger spiritual reality including heaven and hell (Matthew 16:19, John 14:2-3).
Christ frequently cast out demons and confronted Satan in his ministry. Angels and other spiritual beings exist unseen alongside the natural world. Scripture devotes as much or more attention to the spiritual domain as earthly affairs. Biblical revelation does not allow the physical world to eclipse the spiritual.
Secular Humanism Distorts Human Purpose
For secular humanists, meaning in life largely centers on temporal happines, fulfillment and doing good deeds that make the world better. But the Bible presents humanity’s primary purpose as bringing glory to God the Creator (Isaiah 43:7). People find greatest joy when living according to their design and in relationship with their Designer.
Fulfillment apart from the Creator is misguided, like tools finding purpose outside the workman who fashioned them. Joy in benefiting one’s fellow man loses proper perspective when severed from glorifying the God who fashioned mankind. Scripture steers purpose back toward eternal relationship with deity.
Secular Humanism Marginalizes God
While secular humanists claim an empowering, optimistic view of human nature, the Bible warns that severing ties with deity actually leads to human downfall. Cut off from relationship with their Creator, people lose their way like sheep without a shepherd.
Human history in the Bible goes wrong when mankind rejects God’s presence and purposes. True human dignity and righteousness come through restoring divine image and likeness lost in the fall. Salvation in Christ brings reunion with humanity’s Maker. Apart from knowing God, people cannot fully know themselves.
Conclusion
Secular humanism presents some worthy ideals related to human reasoning, ethics and social progress. But tested against the measuring rod of Scripture, it falls far short as a worldview and guide for human life. At fundamental levels, secular humanism opposes biblical revelation about human sinfulness, supernaturalism, absolute truth and divine purposes.
Seeking enlightenment apart from God proves futile thinking according to the Bible. Human behavior subject only to relative, changing standards cannot fulfill a race designed to honor moral absolutes rooted in God’s changeless nature. Reliance on human wisdom while marginalizing the Creator yields an unstable foundation. For true human flourishing, the Teacher of Scripture calls every person into life-giving relationship with Himself.
