Do you think secularism is an enemy?
Hi wilberhum
It's 16 hours since you asked me this question, and the thread has moved on since then - but I would still like to give a my answer.
Given that it was
me who used the term 'common enemy'( although the article refers to 'allies', which kind of implies a struggle against a common enemy), I thought I would need to ponder my opinion carefully, before posting it.
You see, I wish I could have answered your question with a heart-felt 'no', as Jayda did, but somehow I wasn't sure that could! :?
To be clear about the meaning of the word '
secular', I have checked the definition. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines it as
- concerned with the affairs of this world; not spiritual or sacred
[*]not concerned with religion or religious belief
[*]not bound be any religious rule
Now back to your question:
Do I think non-believers are my enemies?
No! (If i did, I would have to consider most of my family members, friends, neighbours and work colleagues as my enemies. :uuh: 
Do I consider our secular government, secular organisations and secular laws as my enemies?
No! I have two reasons for this:
Firstly, I believe that power corrupts. Countless governments and political systems have demonstrated this. And religious men in power have not fared any better in human history ...
I feel it is wiser to keep religion and politics separate - and I agree that a secular government on the whole gives different religions within a multi-cultural and multi-religious society greater rights and freedom than a single-religion-government would do.
Secondly, Jesus was very clear in his teachings that we should obey our governments and authorities. "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." (Mark 12:17)
In fact, it was this which frustrated some Jews, who had hoped Jesus had come to overturn the Roman rule, and it contributed to him being criticised and eventually killed.
Paul picks up this theme in his letter to the church in Ephesus: "Slaves (replace with employer, citizen etc.), obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
Paul goes on to stress that
"our struggle is not against flesh and blood",but he also talks about a spiritual struggle
"against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms"
You see, this spiritual struggle seems important to me, and I read the article to mean a spiritual struggle against the secular lifestyle of our modern society!
Try to understand this from a religious point of view.
I think I can speak for all three monotheistic religions when I say that we believe that God desires or even demands our
- time and attention
[*]love, worship and devotion
[*]obedience
If you look at it like that, then yes,
secularism undermines and erodes God's way!
By definition secularism is not concerned with God or religion.
Instead of spending time praying to and worshipping God and fulfilling his will, people devote their time to other things, such as materialistic desires, fashion, an obsession with media and celebrities, promiscuous behaviour, drugs ... (Hear me right -
I am not saying that all non-believers engage in these activities.
Forgive me the stereotyping, I am just trying to demonstrate how secularism distracts from God)
Goodness, can somebody just shut me up ...!!! :rollseyes
(I'll stop rambling, wilberhum. Don't
ever let me ponder one of your questions for 16 hours again!!! ;D But perhapsyou know my answer now ...)
peace
laying: So that kind of leaves us with man’s laws. "Nobody who followed a theist religion would support it". 
