Christians need to recognise that the ‘new secularism’ is trying to undermine and destroy their faith, a Free Church minister in Scotland has said.
David Robertson, who is also the Director of the Solas Centre for Public Christianity, warned about the difference between secularists who are “simply about the separation of church and state” and a “new secularism which is much more militant and dangerous”.
Writing for the website Christian Today, Robertson explained: “The vast majority of the posts on secular message boards are anti-religious.
Attack
“The main purpose is to attack religion in general, Christianity in particular and in very particular the Catholic Church and evangelicals.”
He said this attitude “quickly degenerates into personal abuse” if the comments are challenged.
The new secularism appears to come with ‘values’, Robertson argued, such as being pro-abortion, pro-euthanasia and pro-homosexuality.
Public
“Dare any one in public life suggest for example that marriage should be between a man and a woman and they are automatically decried as a homophobic bigot – even (or perhaps especially) if they are homosexual and atheist”, he said.
Robertson commented: “The New Secularists want the complete neuterisation and privatisation of religion. They want only their views and values to be taught and allowed in public life.”
“We need to recognise the new secularism for what it is – an attempt to undermine and destroy Christianity.
Fundamentalism
“We need to stand against its fundamentalism and we need to stand up for the poor, the young, the disabled and the marginalised (who most need the Good News), by proclaiming the gospel of Christ against the elitism and intolerance of our new fundamentalist atheists”, he said.
The last Census of 2011 found that less than 78,000 people (or 0.14 per cent of the population) identified themselves as secularist, atheist, humanists, agnostics or as a free thinker.
Colin Hart, Director of The Christian Institute, said of atheists: “This tiny group of people lays great claims to have their beliefs at the front and centre of our national life.”
“What the atheists lack in numbers, they certainly make up for in terms of their influence and boldness. They understand that their beliefs are a worldview which they are determined to impose on everyone else”, he added.