#789: Ecclesiastes 1-4 || Humanism || Psalm 8

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*** SHOW NOTES (not a transcript) ***

Lead: Today’s definition — humanism — is a SUPER important one to use your discernment superpowers on — for two big reasons.

Intro: Remember the refrain “We don’t need no education!” from Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall? Well, maybe you’re not a dinosaur like me. But I can’t help but connect the dots between Pink Floyd’s stark realism and the book of Ecclesiastes. Hope you’ll join me!

The Case for Miracles, Lee Strobel. I haven’t read it yet, and I’m sure you can find it elsewhere if you don’t like Amazon/Kindle. Two bucks!

Welcome to day ten of the recording-from-the-road roadshow!

Sponsor: (none)

Bible segment (read along with The Bible Project):
Passage: Ecclesiastes 1-4
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Words: ~1099

Apologetics/reflections segment:

Humanism. The philosophical perspective that exalts the value and dignity of human persons (see also human dignity; human rights), and as a result has as its goal the improvement of the human condition. In the modern era, humanism has often come to be set in contrast to Christianity and to represent the rejection of tradition and revelation in favor of human reason. This secular humanism has tended to deny the reality of the supernatural and to elevate the rational and cultural accomplishments of humankind. It has also tended to posit an anthropocentric universe, in contrast to the theocentric perspective espoused by Christians. Despite such differences, to some extent humanism is dependent historically on the Christian elevation of humankind and the human person, especially as these themes emerged in the Renaissance. (1)

Two reasons:

  1. We must ask what people mean by “humanism” when they use it.

  2. The idea that there is NO higher dignity afforded a human being than being made Imago Dei — in the image of God. The complete irony — secular humanism distorts and devalues people because it denies God!

Wisdom segment:
Passage: Psalm 8
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible
Words: ~148

Take action:

  1. Watch The Bible Project’s videos (plural!) on Proverbs (below) if you haven’t already.

Love you!

-R


Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org

Sources and resources

(1) Stanley J. Grenz and Jay T. Smith, Pocket Dictionary of Ethics, The IVP Pocket Reference Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 55.

The Case for Miracles, Lee Strobel. I haven’t read it yet, and I’m sure you can find it elsewhere if you don’t like Amazon/Kindle. Two bucks!