Setting the Record Straight

Recently, a letter appeared in the editorial section of both the Provo Daily Herald and the Deseret News. The letter claimed that "we are witnessing the greatest occult explosion of all time." It then went on to lump secular humanism with "New Age" occultism:

The "New Age" occultism has influenced almost every aspect of our contemporary life, from self-help psychology and holistic medicine to politics and public education. (In broad definition, the New Age is a combination of mysticism, the occult, secular humanism, Eastern religions, Native American tribal religions, the ancient goddess religions and the goddess of Mother Earth cult.)

Adrienne "Tess" Morris, a member of the Humanists of Utah, who doesn't mind being associated with unpopular causes, but does mind being linked with the supernatural, had the following response published in both newspapers:

Wrong Label

Editor,

Ms. Griffin's recent letter about the "occult explosion" contained a startling error. In her "New Age occultisms (sic)" she lists mysticism and various religions, but also includes secular humanism.

Secular humanism is in no way a new-age occult or a cult. "Secular" means not religious, and humanism has a skeptical legacy as old as the classical Greeks. Secular humanists deplore any explanations of the world in supernatural terms. In other words, we are the opposites of mystics and cultists; as independent free-thinkers, we believe neither gods nor devils, heaven nor hell, magic nor faith, miracles nor dogma.

On the contrary, humanists are committed to reason and science for the understanding of the universe and the solving of human problems. We reject anything which denigrates human intelligence and looks outside nature and the real world for answers, help or "salvation." As a matter of fact, humanists work for a happy, healthy humanity in the here an now, and are also concerned about new-age nonsense and "demonology."

Unfortunately, any system of thought which attributes imaginary causes for real effects has the potential for great human harm. Such a belief as "Satan is real" may produce as many problems as if he were.

--Larry Christensen