Tag Archives: grief

Humanism and Christian View of Death

 

 

Christian World View vs Secular Humanist View

Roy Jones(Toy) and Karly

Roy Jones, my grandfather, died over ten years ago. He was an impactful man, strong in love for our Father and the best family man you could want. He left this earth and walked through the gates of heaven in the summer of 2007, and this changed my family’s life. The suffering in the family was a combination of mental and spiritual suffering. It was a toss up of wondering how we could have prevented it; also, why God could not spare him from death after we prayed so hard.

If you were to look at the situation of death in a philosophical manner, I guess psychologists would view reactions in a various number of ways, but specifically secular humanism (def: humanism, with regard in particular to the belief that humanity is capable of morality and self-fulfillment without belief in God.) I would think they would view it this way, because a lot of people typically blame themselves for a specific person’s death. They feel self defeat in aspects such as what they could have done and were not capable of doing. Secular humanism is very similar to this, because man thinks he controls all the events he is faced with. In secular humanism, these people do not blame God, because they believe there is no God. This is the philosophical view on death.

As a Christian myself, the Christian view on death is completely different. Christians believe God does not give us too much to handle and that he loves all of His believers. But God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond that which ye are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (A portion of 1 Corinthians 10:13.) The second way the Christian view is different is that God determines what we go through to strengthen us. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 23:11.) Finally, I know God loves us, because he sent his son to die for us so we as believers can go to His home in heaven and reign with Him.

For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16.) This is how the views of death and suffering differ.

Karly Mims