Secular Family Values (Updated from 1/30/2015)

 

"Needless to say, oftentimes a 'religion' is not needed to breed extremism. People breed it all by themselves, oftentimes with the subjective morality of modern secularism breeding the worst kind."

-- Steven Crowder

My daughter pointed me to an article in 2015, How secular family values stack up, by Phil Zuckerman. Mr. Zuckerman is a professor of sociology at Pitzer College. Pitzer is a private residential liberal arts college in California. And this pretty much sums up Mr. Zuckerman; California college, liberal arts, and sociology. Digging deeper we see his research interests as secularity, atheism, apostasy, and Scandinavian culture. His bibliography seems to all deal with secular and atheist themes.  Also, it might be my age, but I remember having to capitalize titles to articles and stories. I guess we truly live in a world where rules mean so little.  When the most basic rules of grammar and language are thrown out the window, right along with faith.

I want to make sure we all understand the word "secular" before I continue.  I think you'll find it interesting.  I broke out and defined the synonym "profane," and from this, I also broke out the synonym "impious."  I did this to illustrate how our initial impression of a word's meaning can be significantly different than the kinder, gentler, meaning used by an author.  Having said this, I do not know Mr. Zuckerman's personal beliefs, I can only state what I find when I look him up online, and then I can take what he says with a grain of salt when I see that his information may be slanted toward a particular agenda.

The definitions:

Secular: Denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis; (of clergy) not subject to or bound by religious rule; not belonging to or living in a monastic or other order.

Profane: relating or devoted to that which is not sacred or biblical; secular rather than religious; (of a person or their behavior) not respectful of orthodox religious practice; irreverent; treat (something sacred) with irreverence or disrespect.

Impious: not showing respect or reverence, especially for a god; (of a person or act) wicked.

I have no doubt that the majority of secularists in the world are practicing good moral life philosophies.  I do have to question the conclusion that abolishing the death penalty has any bearing on murder rates decreasing.  What they're saying is, murder only occurs if a person knows they will die for doing it.  So, they're linking murder to suicide?  Maybe it's just me, but this seems a bit odd, even for Scandinavia, though I fully see how someone against the death penalty would stretch for this to prove their point.  My problem with "experts" is they expect, not only the "liberal arts" students to drink the Kool-Aid they mix, but they expect the rest of us that actually have a brain to drink it as well.

Herein lies my problem with articles by people that have a political or philosophical "agenda" instead of just reporting both sides, and the bigger picture:  You can make an argument for anything if you play with the facts.  Political parties are the real "experts" at this, but, critical free thinkers see through their bullshit every day, like when they say unemployment is getting better but don't take into account the thousands that left the workforce during COVID-19.  They don't take into account the doctorates working at fast food franchises, or as bartenders, because it pays more.  The fact that many have maxed out their unemployment benefits and are now on welfare, or are back home, living with their mom.  The numbers only work if you cover all the bases; otherwise, you look like another self-serving idiot simply spewing the party line.  But, I digress.

Are all secular people atheists?  No.  I know secular folks that take exception of being labeled atheists.  I also know spiritual folks that take exception at being labeled secular.  It is pretty obvious why when you look at the definitions and see the secular have to accept being defined as "profane" which would then define you as being irreverent, impious, and disrespectful, which would take us to the final definition of being sinful, wicked, and immoral.  Way to go atheists!  Does anyone pay attention to definitions before they bandy them about?  I know I will be taking a closer look, from now on. So, I think the findings of Mr. Zuckerman fly in the face of definitions dealing with "secular," and this is probably because the world is changing.  

Godless doesn't mean evil.  It might mean damned to hell for a period, but that is for the God, many don't believe in, to judge, not me. I think if you live a righteous, secular life, this will carry much weight at the time of judgment.  But, that leaves the lingering question:  If you die never believing, then when you die, is that it?  Do you get nothingness forever?  Is the "afterlife" only available for those that believe in it?  I wouldn't think this necessarily requires you to have "religion" inasmuch as it requires you to have faith.  An afterlife would open up a whole "nuther can o' beans" for the secular, wouldn't it?

I have a feeling if you attend a "secular" college, and don't toe the secular party line, you probably won't get very good grades.  Free thinking and free will are becoming frowned upon at most secular institutions of higher learning, any more.  It would seem secular colleges want social robots that will dutifully goosestep humanity through the 21st century.  That may be fine if you want to follow the rest of the lemmings into the sea.  I prefer to look to the heavens and wonder if there might not be a greater power that wishes more for us.

I really don't care if you choose to follow a secular philosophy in life. If this is your cup of Kool-Aid, so be it.  I just care that you consider living your life thinking for yourself; making decisions based on what you want, not what some college says you must believe in order to graduate.  Thinking for yourself means hearing both sides of an issue and not just believing what the "expert" says because he has a title.   Professors are supposed to teach facts, not personal beliefs, and not party lines.   

Joseph Mengele was a learned man, a doctor, a Nazi, he had a title, and, oh... and I think he was secular.  Does this make being secular wrong?  Absolutely not.  Do Christians care if you're secular?  Absolutely, but it's only because we care about your immortal soul.  However, if you don't feel you have one, it is a choice, your choice, and not necessarily the wrong one.  Everyone deserves to have faith in what they believe.

As long as there is free thought there will always be alternative arguments; the other side of the coin.  It is what makes us human and keeps us free.

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research.

Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony: tolerantpastor@gmail.com