A Secularist does not necessarily
rely upon the scientific method for knowing, rather his preferred method
of knowing relies upon common sense. “Common sense”
normally refers to the habit of making practical judgments without
relying upon a "special knowledge." What
is real and true can be known by every human, using their five
senses. To make claims for senses that are beyond or above
or transcend the human senses is truly senseless. For how can a
human
know other than what all humans could know?
As with Scientism, Secularism accepts no revealed truths.
(Historically, three "secular humanism" manifestoes convey the general
"secular beliefs,")
Since Secularism lacks an
absolute moral authority, such as the Koran or the Catholic
pope, there are
no fixed guidelines for the Secularist to follow if and when
he, say, might want to
morally oppose something, e.g., the creation of a weapon of
mass destruction and
self-annihilation. To
whom or what would the Secularist appeal?
All he can do is act as
an individual—and lobby his
fellow citizens.
All he has at hand are the arts of reasoning and persuasion.
Indeed,
if a Secularist had morally refused to
participate in the creation or the
dropping of the atomic bomb, that would have been properly
described as an
idiosyncratic act and/or an existential act of
personal moral choice. In all morally challenging situations,
he
cannot expect that his act will have an impact on social
morality because there is
no Secular moral norm which he can call others
to emulate or obey. All he has is
the
persuasive force of his own
personal moral interpretation and justification.
Continue—Secularism
