The first published response to "Pernicious Philosophy" was written by chapter member Virginia Leonard and published in the Salt Lake Tribune August 11, 1999.

We all have reason to be grateful for the "pernicious philosophy" of secular humanism that Jess Bushman holds in such fear and contempt (Forum, July 30).

Religious diversity, the right to private judgment, the necessity of free inquiry are essential ingredients of democracy and guaranteed by our Constitution. Escaping ignorance and superstition has never been without controversy.

Chapter president Flo Wineriter's response was published August 13, 1999

In response to Jess R. Bushman's "Pernicious Philosophy" (Forum, July 30), I challenge him to quote even one sentence in the Constitution of the United States indicating that the founders of our nation were influenced by Christianity or intended for this land to be a Christian nation, or that makes any mention of its being a religious document.

To the contrary, I cite Article VI of our Constitution, paragraph 2, which clearly states that the Constitution and the laws made in pursuance to it and all treaties made under the authority of the United States shall be the law of the land, and paragraph 3, which says "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust."

Regarding his insinuation that secular humanism lacks moral standards and is a destructive influence on society, I point out that Humanism is committed to rational thought, responsible behavior and compassion; human dignity, community involvement and peaceful conflict resolution. Humanists do believe that moral values are not the special property of any religious tradition.

If he and others are sincere about a careful examination of the origin and influence of Humanism, I suggest they begin by reading Francis Bacon, John Locke, Voltaire, David Hume, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and John Stuart Mill. For an understanding of contemporary Humanism, go to www.HumanistsOfUtah.org.

I wholeheartedly agree with Bushman on two things: (1) The U.S. Constitution is one of the greatest documents human minds have created, and (2) everyone should take time to study the Constitution and fully understand it.

Board Member Earl Wunderli's response was published August 14, 1999

I certainly agree with Jess Bushman's view (Forum, July 30) that the U.S. Constitution "played a major role in making our country great," but I disagree with just about everything else he wrote.

I fail to see how he could urge us to study the Constitution and then extol its "religious emphasis." The Constitution is a secular document. It was inspired more by such 18th-century Enlightenment ideas as reason, equality and freedom than anything else, including the Christian religion. It does not mention God. It states that no religious test shall be a qualification for public office. It requires the government's strict neutrality on matters of religion, erecting, as Jefferson wrote, a wall of separation between church and state. Because of this, the Supreme Court has prohibited prayer in public (not private) schools and displays of the Ten Commandments on government (not private) property. And because of this, we can practice any religion or no religion as we choose. This freedom is one of the great strengths of our country.

As for secular humanism, Bushman would do well to understand rather than demonize what he opposes. According to the American Humanist Association, for example, secular humanists believe in the dignity of each human being, individual liberty, social responsibility, participatory democracy, open societies, human rights and social justice. Yes, they are nontheistic and believe that humanity must take responsibility for its own destiny, but they also believe in all the basic moral values such as integrity, honesty, and fairness, and believe that schools should teach these values. Therefore, Bushman is wrong in stating that because of secular humanism, "moral integrity is no longer a major issue for consideration in the teaching of our children." If he has in mind his particular religious moral code, then the Constitution itself would prohibit teaching it, and secular humanists would agree.

Chapter member James Carroll's letter has not been published yet.

In his July 30th letter to the editor ("Pernicious Philosophy") Jess Bushman asks the question "Do you fully understand the Constitution...?", and then goes on to show that he clearly does not. He claims that Americans do not have prayer and the 10 Commandments in school because of Secular Humanism when in fact it is because his beloved U.S. Constitution that he maintains is a Christianity-inspired document. I wonder how he squares this view with the 1797 statement (Treaty with Tripoli) by framers of the Constitution that "...the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion."

Mr. Bushman goes on to ask "do you realize that the Constitution is being misinterpreted and abused by many individuals and organizations seeking political and monetary gain?" It has likely ever been thus, but the current abusers appear to be Christian revisionists like Mr. Bushman, and not the Secular Humanists he supposes. Thankfully the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution is not these individuals or organizations but an entity created by the Constitution itself-the U.S. Supreme Court.