The Christian Humanist

The Christian Humanist

By Damian TharcisiusReligion & Spirituality
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The Christian Humanist episodes

  • Part II: Episode 11 Engages the anti-intellectual character of religion (Catholicism) in relation to the subjects of Evolution and Consumerism.

    Hello Everyone. Welcome to the New Humanist Podcast. I am Damian.

    This is episode 11. Continuing the theme for Part II, here I tackle the anti-intellectual character of faith: one that is characteristic of many religious leaders today. A point which I will illustrate by critiquing the views of Pope Francis in relation to two key subjects: Economics, & Evolution. The following are the quotations by the said Pontiff, which I shall engage:

    Quote 01:

    • "When a society - whether local, national or global - is willing to leave a part of itself on the fringes, no political programs or resources spent on law enforcement or surveillance systems can indefinitely guarantee tranquility. This is not the case simply because inequality provokes a violent reaction from those excluded from the system, but because the socioeconomic system is unjust at its root"

      • Quote 03:

      • "When we read about Creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so,” Francis said. “He created human beings and let them develop according to the internal laws that he gave to each one so they would reach their fulfilment".
        • 30 min
      • The Anti-materialism at the heart of the Christian Faith (Part II: Episode 10)
        Hello Everyone. Welcome to the New Humanist Podcast. I am Damian.
        The anti-materialism of mainstream Christianity: one that is a notable feature of the Catholic version of the belief is one which undermines the human spirit and, paradoxically, the religious sense. I will engage this matter, by providing three examples taken from sermons I have hears over the past years, and critique them. 
        Sermon 01: The sermon, where it was preached that a closer relationship with God can only come by rejecting your personal goals and aspirations, in the material sense.
        Sermon 02: The sermon, where it was preached that God brings us closer to Him, by undermining our plans and, in some instances, to use the preacher's own words "destroying" the source of our joys.
        Sermon 03: The sermon, where it was preached that human life is about going to  heaven. And that heaven is a place where we live forever, it is worth forgoing the pursuit of our aspirations here in the real/material world.
        32 min
      • Religion, in relation to its Unhealthy Preoccupation with Sex (Part II Episode 09)
        In this episode I will confront the problem related to the overt preoccupation the religious have with sex. I will engage this particular subject by engaging the views of a certain Christian (Catholic) evangelist named Matt Fradd, who has problematically made sexual morality, & specifically the advancement of its (very particular) moralist facet, the main/sole focus of his ministry. With consequences to follow. Notably:
        In generating negative PR for the Christian Faith, and of God in general. (In case the listener was wondering, I'm a humanist. Not an atheist).
        By making sex the focal point of his ministry, he (and many other evangelists like him) takes the attention away from the central tenants of the Christian Faith: those which relate to God, and the Redemptive message of Christ. One that Christian evangelization is supposed to bring to life.
        The danger of hypocrisy. A predictable one. The foolhardiness of engaging the topic of sex by religious representatives in the modern world, is problematic for the most obvious reason: No one is righteous.
        28 min
      • Part II: Episode 08: The theme for Part II is the problem with religion in the modern world.
        Hello Everyone. Welcome to the New Humanist Podcast. I am Damian.
         In the course of the next 7 episodes I will engage a specific facet of religion (Christianity), and where it is going wrong with respect to the modern, Western mind. In this episode, I will engage the problem of religion in relation to the cultural disconnect between its leaders and the laity, by confronting the following points:
        The religious character of religious leaders (logically) predisposes them to approach the real world in a negative, overtly critically and often times, cynical way.
        Religious leaders, like priests, bishops, nuns etc. Have different goals, aims and  aspirations from the rest. And this means that their teachings, message  and attitude towards life's key question, no matter how well intended,  would logically diverges from the aims of the secular (but not atheistic)  mind.
        The problem  with religion today is its anti-secular character: meaning it is  anti-material, anti-existential, and ultimately anti-individualist. A notable example in this regard, outside Christianity is Buddhism. Where  renunciation of "the world" (i.e. the joys of being human) is considered a central virtue.
        Biblical Verse (Lightly) Engaged
        (St. Paul 1 Timothy 6: 6-10)
        But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
        26 min
      • Episode 07: Engages a question that is likely to be on your mind: What do I mean by Humanism?

        Hello Everyone. Welcome to the New Humanist Podcast. I am Damian.

        This is the seventh episode. The topic for today is a question. What do I mean by Humanism?

        Which I will attempt to answer by outlining what humanism is not.

        • Humanism is not atheism or any other form secular/god rejecting ideology. 
        • Humanism is not the rejection of the importance of religion: The belief in the unknown, but within the  remits of reason.
        • Humanism places man and God (the divine) at the center of the human experience. God and man are not adversaries. God wants what is best for us. Man wants what is best for himself (and for humanity as a whole). 

          • This is the final episode of Part I of the New Humanist Podcast. This is meant to be an intro and close, setting the stage, so to speak, for what is to come.

          Starting this podcast has been a learning curve. In terms of getting my thoughts across on the subject, which until now, has admittedly been a scattershot critic of mainstream religion (Christianity). And it has also been, from a 'technical' standpoint, a process of learning about the art of podcasting. Got a long way to go. As the listener, who has managed to sit through until now, would know, these are still early days. Things will get better. A more systematized output of content, better audio (as I have learnt, speaking slowly when podcasting is key), and a more intellectually serious dive into the idea of Humanism is coming soon.

          24 min
        • Episode 06: On the causes underlying the decline of religiosity in the West.

          Hello Everyone. Welcome to the New Humanist Podcast. I am Damian.

          • Why are people (especially the young) moving away from religious life?
          • What do the following three  factors. One: the kind of language used by the religious when  communicating their message; two: the distinct aspirations between the religious and the secular (though not necessarily atheistic); and three:  the abject status of religious institutions in the West, and their role in driving these changes.
          • What is the answer to, not exactly the decline of religion, but the weakening of the religious sensibility amongst the Western masses?

            • If you are one of the many who has become disenchanted with the current status of Religion, and seeks to understand why? This episode may have something to offer.

            The fact that people, especially the youth, are switching out from religious life, is a well-documented phenomenon. However, the factors that are driving it, are either not understood from the outset, or the reasons are often misconstrued. To say nothing of the remedies that are suggested in response. Since those involved in analyzing the (declining) status of faith, are also of a religious (i.e. status quo maintaining) character.

            28 min
          • Episode 05: Does Religion undermine Human Initiative?

            Hello Everyone. Welcome to the New Humanist Podcast. I am Damian.

            This is the fifth episode. The topic for today is the question: Does Religion undermine Human initiative?

            • Does the focus  on afterlife adversely affect the way religious systems view the real world?
            • Does the peculiar social and personal character of religious leaders, and the representatives of religious institutions (e.g. priests, pastors, nuns, bishops, monks etc.) Affect the kind of message they advance to the masses?
            • And, does the natural moral focus of religions (i.e. the dos vs don'ts) impede the  advancement of a more man-affirming, life-affirming, ultimately human-centric message?

              • If you don’t like Religion and want to understand Why you don’t, you might be in the right place.

              This episode brings together what we have engaged in the course of this podcast series so far: The overt moral focus of religions, the tendency amongst religious leaders to trivialize (intentionally or otherwise) the importance of human initiative: notably in career and relationships. With the new addition: the belief in afterlife. On the last point. This not a critic of the reality of life after death. But rather, does the belief in whatever that lies beyond, and the way it is communicated to the world, undermine our ability to operate fully and effectively in the real world.

              32 min
            • Episode 04: 'Money does Not buy Happiness'. Really..?

              Hello Everyone. Welcome to the New Humanist Podcast. I am Damian.

              This is the fourth episode. The topic for today is on the notion that Money does NOT buy Happiness.

              (Boy, we've all heard that one before).

              • First off,  what does one mean by the statement: money does not buy happiness?
              • What are the some of the problems associated with this notion?
              • Further, what could possibly lead (certain) people to advance the view that money does not buy, or lead to, that which makes us happy?

                • Interested?

                This episode, whilst attempting to answer these questions (in the given time), also goes after the famous Catholic evangelist: Bishop Robert Barron. A known quantity in Catholic new media. Specifically, it challenges the message he propounds in a video on the Sacrament of Confirmation. Where he states that money (along with power, pleasure, and honor), does not makes us happy. And then goes on to say that, the idea that these will make us happy, comes from the devil!

                26 min
              • Episode 03: The Wisdom of Talking about Sex in an Evangelical setting.

                Hello Everyone. Welcome to the New Humanist Podcast. I am Damian.

                This is the third episode. The topic for today is on the problematic character of religions' (Christianity) engagement of human sexuality. One that is generally dogmatic, didactic and unhelpful at best.

                • Is it wise for persons of Faith, specifically evangelists, to engage the topic of sex, evangelically?
                • What are the main problems with religious dogmatists, whose idea of spreading the Good News, essentially comes down to telling everyone else, what is right, or wrong about sex?
                • Why does the religious (i.e. Christian) message of hope and Redemption, invariably devolve into moralizing pontificating sessions. Advanced by (seemingly) self-righteous moralists?

                  • Challenging Questions.

                  Which require serious answers. This episode is a more critical one than the previous two. And seeks to clear some of the "air" that surrounds the engagement of sexuality, within an evangelical context.  

                  21 min
                • Episode 02: Time for a New Religious Converse?

                  Hello Everyone. Welcome to the New Humanist Podcast. I am Damian.

                  This is the second episode. The topic for today is on the need for mainstreams religions (Christianity specifically), to adopt a new language. One that is more current and resonant with the masses. Religious or secular. 

                  • Why do religious persons (priests, pastors, preachers) sound so weird when they speak.. About anything?
                  • Why are these kinds of people (the clerical class) seem (or at least look) weird, and out of place?
                  • Why does the religious (i.e. Christian) message, whilst carrying nougats of truth in them: such as the importance of love, brotherhood, charity etc. Yet seem increasingly inaccessible, and less relevant to the demands of the modern world?
                  • Are religions in their very character, fundamentally inadequate in engaging the subjects that matter to you and me?

                    • Challenging questions.

                    Which require serious answers. This episode is an attempt to make better sense of these. Whilst arguing for a new engagement of the religious question, and its relevance to the modern (Western) mind.

                    24 min

                  About The Christian Humanist

                  From the publisher's feed

                  Hello Everyone. Welcome to the Christian Humanist Podcast. I am Damian.