Expert: Dean Gade - 10/20/2005

Question
i have been puzzling for weeks on making a thesis for the topic: to what extent "Humanism (in its many forms) has impacted mankinds relationship to God and Creation in history"  if you have any exaples or links for information that would be great!

Answer
Humanism does indeed have many forms. I believe that the first mention of it is in Genesis when Eve was tempted with the possibility of being a god unto herself.

If it hadn't been for God's love and grace for her and Adam, it would have been devestating. But the teaching of humanism has never gone out of style. It just keeps popping us in new forms.

There are a multitude of example in the Bible. Many in the Old Testament tell us how people and even the nations of Isreal and Judah sought to be free of God and live by their own wisdom. And in both testaments we have God telling His people to not trust their own wisdom and understanding.

Isa 5:21

21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight.

1 Cor 1:20-25
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
(from New International Version)

I know of no links where this is covered. But I would suggest that you narrow the field of Humanism down to the teachings of some of the better known humansists and then contrast their teachings about "man" and the teachings of St. Paul in his letters.

Basically, Paul confirms that we are all short of the mark God has set in the Law(given to Moses on Mt. Sinai) and are alwasy racked with guilt because of our inability to be what WE wish to be.

Rom 5:12-14
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned- 13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law.
(from New International Version)

And further teaches that is it is our desire to be "good" to all:

Rom 7:14-8:1

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

(from New International Version)

This view of man is in great contrast to Humanism because Humanism has a an anthropocentric theory and not a theocentric basis.

If I can be of further help after you get started, please ask further.