RELIGION AND SECULAR HUMANISM

Abstract

Somewhere at the climax of a pedantic debate, Protaqoras, the most formidable of the Greek Sophists hurled at his opponent what; would 'later become the cardinal principle of secular humanism, "Man: is the measure of all things." Although in subsequent centuries w.avel after wave of Christian writings succeeded in almost totally suppr~ssing: this "pagan" anthropocentrism, it seems that today Protagoreanism,i is coming back with a vengeance. The dominant feature of the con-. temporary consumer society is the overwhelming emphasis given to; man and his concerns and the visible eclipse of other-worldly concernsand faith in a transcendent reality. In other words, the contemporary) scene reflects a shift of interest from the supernatural tothe natural" from the divine to the human. Anthropocentrism is today r~ac~,ing! a climax. resulting in the glorification and almost deification of .man.: While the Middle Ages gave shape to a world that was theocentric and. "closed", the builders of the modern world are today busy developing~ a ,,¥orld that is anthropocentric and "open". Today man's needs andaspirations, his frustrations and anxieties, his comfort and convenience, determlae what is good and what is bad, what is right and.wh~t is wrong.