Rationality is at the base of secular humanism and has caused its proponents to view individuals as more self-reliant and less dependent on supernatural authorities.
Religion addresses concerns that are too often overlooked by proponents of individualism. Individualism is based upon the pursuit of happiness but happiness encompasses aspects that cannot be obtained through either the pleasure theory of hedonism, the self-interest approach of egoism, or the rational basis of secular humanism. Happiness is measured by intangibles such as the presence of hope and optimism that only religion and a belief in a supernatural being can address and provide. Religion provides the mechanism through which individuals are able to escape the realities of life that often result in deplorable and unpleasant conditions. Religion is able to provide an individual facing such conditions with a basis for looking forward and to look past their present condition. Instead...
Society has seemingly abandoned religion in favor of individual concerns. Pleasure and self-interest have become the focus. Happiness has become defined by material accumulation. Hope and optimism have been overlooked in the process and those pursuing material accumulation are left feeling lonely, disillusioned, and abandoned when materialism fails to fulfill their needs. Religion and a belief in God remain available to fill the gap as they always had but the current trend toward individualism and its components, hedonism, egoism, and secular humanism, are strong and it is the responsibility of religion to overcome these influences as much as possible.
Christian responses to Modern Philosophies
