Volume 3, Issue 5, May 1995


DIMENSIONS OF SUCCESS

Today it is not uncommon to find some young people not wanting to be named Christians. I suppose this is due in large part to the secular humanism of today in which God is simply a projection of human needs and desires. They properly reject the old idea of a God who filled many people with fear rather than with hope and faith.

Freedom from convention means freedom to observe, to think and behave sensibly, to the advantage of the person and of the group, free from outmoded types of loyalties and from the magic fears of our forefathers.

When persons have reached certain enviable goals we often say they are successful. We presume they have it made. We feel that we too will have arrived when we achieve similar desirable goals; when we get married, have a baby, get promoted, lose weight, buy a second car, move to the country, etc..

Although its admirable, and perhaps important, to work for such goals, the idea that we can find true and lasting happiness in merely seeking such goals is a fallacy. It requires discipline, responsibility, and hard work to care for a baby, to contribute to a marriage, maintain a weight loss, or be ultimately satisfied with material riches. Just because we gain these objectives doesn't mean life will be problem free or that we'll even be happy.

The philosophy of humanism ("Man is the measure of all things") is in itself a form of belief. It is an expression of religion. In humankind's search for satisfying human living, religious humanism is
concerned for values that persons can realistically hope for. God is defined generally in terms of humanity considered in its noblest aspirations and capacities. Our age of scientific achievement proclaims the inherent greatness of humanity, but denies the need of any power other than ones own for deliverance.

Extreme humanism simply dismisses God (a divine power) as irrelevant. Pride reaches beyond sensible knowledge when it develops contempt for the holy in life. To dismiss the holy and to leave it out of the account in the handling of life is a steady deterioration in human relationships and personal growth.

In a society which so covets success the question of what success does to a person's soul and to their relationships with others is worth considering. Is the successful person liked? Does this person gather friends? Are they feared? Envied? Hated? Success may be too dearly bought. It is attributed to Jesus that he admonished: "For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?" (Mark 8:36).

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"Religion NOW" is published in limited edition by the Rev. Ross E. Readhead, B.A., B.D., Certificate of Corrections, McMaster University, in the interest of furthering knowledge and participation in religion. Dialogue is invited and welcomed.