stim@fluke.UUCP (Randy Stimpson) (10/30/85)
"If an idea of social concern cannot be argued on the
basis of logic and common sense ... it is doubtful that
it will be assisted by the addition of a few Bible verses."
- Franky Schaeffer
Bad News for Modern Man, p. 23
Humanism: A philosophy that asserts the dignity and worth of
man and his capacity for self-realization through
reason and that often rejects supernaturalism.
- Webster's Dictionary
"Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is
wise by the standards of this age, he should become a 'fool'
so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is
foolishness in God's sight."
I Corinthians 3:18,19 N.I.V.pmd@cbsck.UUCP (Paul M. Dubuc) (10/31/85)
From Randy Stimpson: > "If an idea of social concern cannot be argued on the > basis of logic and common sense ... it is doubtful that > it will be assisted by the addition of a few Bible verses." > - Franky Schaeffer > Bad News for Modern Man, p. 23 > > Humanism: A philosophy that asserts the dignity and worth of > man and his capacity for self-realization through > reason and that often rejects supernaturalism. > - Webster's Dictionary > > "Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is > wise by the standards of this age, he should become a 'fool' > so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is > foolishness in God's sight." > I Corinthians 3:18,19 N.I.V. As always, Scripture should be studied in context. In the context of this verse, Paul is warning the Corinthians concerning their tendency to develop personality cults around Apollos, himself, or even Jesus (as a personality). I think the effect of Paul's statement is that if there are those who encourage this sort of attitude, (about themselves, possibly) they should examine their motives for doing so and have a little more humility where the importance of their own wisdom is concerned. I don't think the text is meant to imply that we should disdain "worldly wisdom". All truth is God's truth. The error here, which may concern the Humanists, is the exaltation of human wisdom above revelation and separating it from the knowledge of God. The idea that human wisdom is completely sufficient to define and remedy the problems of mankind is the error that Paul wishes to correct. Both Paul and Jesus demonstrated a knowledge of Greek philosophy (which was common in the Hellenistic world). Paul used it as a bridge to communicate the Gospel to the Greeks. You have to be on common terms and recognize the truth in much human wisdom in order to communicate at all. Read the book of Acts and notice the differing bases from which Paul communicates the Gospel to Jews and Greeks. In Acts 17 Paul actually quotes from one of the Greek poets to support his claims. The point is that if the social and personal implications of Scripture cannot be supported (at least initially where the personal implications are concerned, and always where they effect society in general) in terms of common sense and reason (features which partake of the image of God common to all humans), then just relying on Scripture citations isn't going to do the job any better. Non-believers cannot be expected to understand or accept the teachings of Scripture without our first employing some common basis for understanding those teachings. That is part of each person's responsibility to assess the claims of Scripture and decide for her/himself whether to accept or reject them. If you don't make an attempt to understand the thinking and "wisdom" of people around you so as to understand how the claims of Scripture apply to them (i.e. how they will understand your attempts to communicate them), how can you expect them to relate to Scripture at all and have any basis for making an assessment as to how it applies to them? If that is the point Franky Schaeffer is trying to make, I agree with him. -- Paul Dubuc cbsck!pmd
rlr@pyuxd.UUCP (Rich Rosen) (11/06/85)
> "If an idea of social concern cannot be argued on the > basis of logic and common sense ... it is doubtful that > it will be assisted by the addition of a few Bible verses." > - Franky Schaeffer > Bad News for Modern Man, p. 23 And of course this makes perfect sense, as well it should. Anything of ANY concern that has no logic or common sense behind it should not be suddenly more acceptable because of "the addition of a few Bible verses" or other random wishful notions. And yet, of course, as we know, for many people, it is... > Humanism: A philosophy that asserts the dignity and worth of > man and his capacity for self-realization through > reason and that often rejects supernaturalism. > - Webster's Dictionary Rejecting supernaturalism means not engaging in presumptions that anything you don't understand is ipso facto part of an extrarational, non-physical, supernatural realm. With that in mind, if that is humanism, pray tell, what could possibly be wrong with that????? > "Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is > wise by the standards of this age, he should become a 'fool' > so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is > foolishness in God's sight." > I Corinthians 3:18,19 N.I.V. And here is an example of said presumption... -- Popular consensus says that reality is based on popular consensus. Rich Rosen pyuxd!rlr