SECULAR RELIGION vs. TRUE RELIGION

SECULAR RELIGION vs. TRUE RELIGION

Humanistic or Secular Religion	True Religion
Humanistic Psychology – has ‘evolved’ and built upon the limitations Skinner’s Behaviorism of Freud’s Psychoanalytic theory. It acknowledges spiritual aspiration as a fundamental part of the human psyche, but it reaches into the cosmos and typically integrates transcendent or transpersonal experiences such as mysticism, trances, and other such self-development alternatives and altered state alternatives into their secular humanistic religion.	According to the Scriptures, “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27).” True religion first acknowledges the one true ‘God,’ our ‘Father.’ It is not secular; it actually warns against the ‘pollutions’ of the false ‘philosophies (Col. 2:8)’ in ‘the world.’ It also instructs us to care for the weak, poor and each other.
According to Psychology Today: “Though we can’t prove the existence of one (or many) god(s), we can provide evidence for the power of religion. For good or for evil, faith factors into our everyday functioning: We’ve evolved to believe. Religion can help us make sense of our world, provide motivation and bind us together. Nevertheless, structured belief has its drawbacks. So keep your mind open when dealing with dogma.”	True religion knows ‘there is One God (Exo. 8:10).’ And ‘what does the Lord you God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments … for your own good (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)?” Faith has been around since the first man; thus, it also has been – belief was not by evolution, but by experience with God.
Secular and Humanistic Religion accepts religion as the belief in ‘a supernatural power or powers’ usually regarded as creating the universe.	“Yet for us there is one God, the Father… and one Lord Jesus Christ… the image of the invisible God… by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth… (Col. 1:15-).’
Secular Humanistic religion is typically based on the teaching of a spiritual leader(s).	“God… spoke by the prophets, and in these lasts days has spoken to us by His Son… (Heb. 1:1).’ And Christ by disciples.
Secular or Humanistic religion comes to the place of ecumenicalism or total acceptance of many alternatives to salvation. Ecumenicalism or Ecumenism refers to the Early Church concept of bringing together Christians together; of different bishops or denominations, yet it almost always dilutes creed in did most Unitarians. The Parliament of the World’s Religions calls itself ‘the Global Interfaith Movement’ and supports ALL ‘interfaith relations’ and ‘interfaith dialogue.’	True Religion welcomes all to the truth; declares its Creed and single path to salvation: We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father, true God from true God, begotten, not made; through Him all things were made. He came down from heaven for our salvation… And we believe in the Holy Spirit… We look forward to the resurrection of the dead and life to come.
Secular psychology and its religion admits we have a Conscience, which Freud taught is part of a ‘superego’ and that most psychologists tell us contains information that by experiences tell us what is good and bad; right and wrong. It is an ability or faculty of the brain/mind that leads us to feel remorse and in which lays our moral judgment.	Conscience comes from the Latin meaning ‘with knowledge.’ True Religion tells us by the Spirit of the Lord we can receive good ‘counsel, wisdom and knowledge (Isa. 11:2; Psa.16:7). There is ‘a earthly wisdom’ and ‘grace of God’ that leads our conscience to sorrow, repentance and righteously (2Cor.1:12).
Humanistic religion looks to man and professors for wisdom and understanding.	‘The fear of the Lord is wisdom; and to shun evil is understanding (Job 28:28).’
Humanistic religion and secular psychology leads us to study the works of men for instruction on Laws.	True religion teaches us to consult the Holy Scriptures and the commands and statutes of God for a starting point for our laws.
Humanistic religion teaches that many self-help spiritual books or mystical resources are just as valuable as others – even the Torah and the Bible.	True religion teaches us that there is no substitute for the Torah or Tanakh – the words of God through Moses and the Prophets.
Secular religion teaches that our minds can be clear through mediation on good things and with the help of meditation incense sticks or	True Religion teaches us that our minds and soul are ‘washed through the word’ of God and the ‘blood of Jesus Christ’ (Eph. 5:26; Rev. 1:5; etc.)
Secular humanism believes humans are capable of being ethical and moral without religion or God. They often deny God, and most always deny Jesus Christ.	True religion knows that nothing can exist without God and that there must be a Supreme Lawgiver to teach morals. “The fool says, ‘there is no God’.” Psalm 14
Secular humanism believes humans are neither inherently good nor evil.	True religion knows men are sinners and will continue to sin and move towards more evil without God.
Secular morality looks to the ‘best minds’ in freethinking, humanism, consequentialism, etc. They look to philosophers such as Immanuel Kant or Aristotle or works such as the 42 Principles of Ma’at. There morals are usually based on science, logic and reason, as well as incorporating certain traditions and culture acceptances.	True religion teaches that morality (‘proper behavior’) and righteous go hand in hand. And that it is from the Holy Scriptures, God’s commandments, Christ and the apostles and prophets teachings that we can learn true righteousness. Also we believe that the Holy Spirit impresses upon man to ‘do what is right (Gen. 4:7).’
Ethics are moral principles that govern a person or groups behavior. Many secular companies and secular professions require continuing education in Ethics. They do not want employees stealing from the company, clients or others; nor misleading clients or fellow workers. They offer scenarios and solutions; standards and rules.	Christian ethics or moral theology also teaches about various behaviors and right and wrong; but ultimately teaches that ‘righteous’ can only come through a relationship with Jesus Christ, and through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God. It looks to the Holy Scriptures for wisdom and guidance concerning ethical behavior.
Secular Religion has multiple conclusions what happens after a person dies and concerning the end of the world. Most religions teach about after-life; or life after death; and many teach about the end of this world. But secular religions often accept many alternatives including reincarnation or total annihilation. Many secular or humanist do not believe in a judgment to come.	True religion states, “There shall be a time of tribulation, such as never was before… and (afterwards)… the dead shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:1-2).” For “they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto damnation… (John 5:29);” for the “Lord Jesus Christ will come to judge the living and the dead… (2 Tim. 4:1).”

“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14