John J. Dunphy Quote

“I am convinced that the battle for humankind's future must be waged and won in the public school classroom by teachers that correctly perceive their role as proselytizers of a new faith: a religion of humanity that recognizes and respects the spark of what theologians call divinity in every human being... The classroom must and will become an arena of conflict between the old and new -- the rotting corpse of Christianity, together with all its adjacent evils and misery, and the new faith of humanism, resplendent with the promise of a world in which the never-realized Christian ideal of 'love thy neighbor' will finally be achieved.”

~ John J. Dunphy

"A Religion For A New Age," The Humanist magazine, January-February 1983 [Volume 43, Number 1]

Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk

the new faith of humanism has caused more harm, pain, and death than all other belief systems put together. I have not seen a humanist oraganization do anything near what the Christian Churches do for the poor, the hungary, or the dis-infanchised.

Kimberly G. Mitcham, Las Animas, CO

This guy is so out of touch he must live on the moon. WE have a higher membership of active participating members in our church than we did 20 yrs ago. LARGE youth group! This is another example of Liberal idiots that do not know what they are talking about! Why do you publicize it?

Eric, Wichita

Well he classroom has certainly become a battleground. Police in the halls, armed kids, I think we need to mention the "rotting corpse of humanism" except that is not politically correct.

E Archer, NYC

The school room IS a battleground -- that is the important point in this quote, and the humanists are not the only ones vying for control of it. Hypocrisy still abounds in public education even with noble talk of 'love thy neighbor.'

Anonymous
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Anonymous    11/27/07

The above postings clearly show that hate is indeed still a christian family value...

Jonathan, Dallas

I think most people neglected to see the date on this. I, for one, am glad that the quotes shared are so diverse and from so many viewpoints -- that is the true value of "liberty" quotes. We are all given to see what others are free to express and realize that each of these battles is the culmination of all our freedoms. Poor Humanism.

warren, olathe

The quote is pure hate MR anonymous. That is what the left is made of. Pure hate. It enables them to ignore reason. It enables them to spread their philosophy. Cloud a mind with hate and one can no longer reason. Fertile ground for propaganda to flourish. Remove ones belief in God and he will believe in anything. Excellent quote that demonstrates what we are up against.

Hurin, Gondolin

He lost me at public schools, and I never quite made it back. He's wrong. Do I need to explain, or is it pretty self evident?

Heather
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Heather    4/15/08
Anthony J. Reynolds, Dallas, TX

Hey warren. Anonymous just commented he thought that hate was a Christian value. He expressed his view in non-hateful language. Your defensiveness and fear comes across far more hateful. Plus, belief in god is as meaningful as believing in fairies and pixies. Believing in humanity is a far braver and kinder thing. AND REAL.

Mike Read, Belfast

Kimberly! Mike! and some of you other curious minds above. Isn't the largest charitable organisation in the US the United Way? A charity affiliated to no religion? Kind, and decent human beings are charitable because it is in them. Not because a man made fantasy tells them to be. Free your minds angry people. Idiots? Really? More importantly you do not seem to understand the word humanism(the clue is in the front part of the word.) humanism |ˈ(h)yoōməˌnizəm| noun an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems.

Anna, FL
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    Anna, FL    6/13/10

    Ok first of all , there is nothing evil about christianity. God created this world and saved us out of compassion, love, and forgiveness. Last time I checked giving us eternal life in heaven doesn't cause any misery. Also, christianity will prevail in the end when God comes back. I'm only 13 and I have enough sense to know that God is the one and only religious beleif to believe in. I hope you will see my point of view. I'll be praying for you all.

    Al, Warwick, RI

    Love thy neighbor for them in their revelation of the doctorine of lucifer is really love thy elitists, and let them cull the useless eaters when they deem fit.

    Mary, Weston

    LOL!! Atheism bringing about the Christian ideal of loving thy neighbor??? Oh well, at least Dunphy admitted that it was a "Christian" ideal. I'll give him that much. But honestly - atheism engendering love for one's neighbor? Kinda like it did in the Ukraine in the 1930s?? Or in China's great leap forward? Or at the Kolyma camps, or Auschwitz or Dachau? Yeah, the atheist regimes really poured on the love in the 20th century, huh? NOT........... I won't take a crack at anyone's personal beliefs here, because it isn't necessary for the purposes of this rant. What I WILL do is call for a sane examination of the historical facts. I wonder how many more decades and deaths it will take before the atheists finally decide to get honest about the end result of THEIR religious zeal and admit that they haven't done any better than the Catholics with the Inquisition or the Calvinists with their stocks. There is no extra intellectual sophistication in the act of embracing atheism as opposed to Christianity. Lack of honesty and intellectual rigor stinks on either side of the fence. Dunphy obviously doesn't know the history of openly atheist governments of the 20th century, or else, like many of his fellow atheists, he choses to ignore it, or even worse, quietly support it (which, by the way, many of them do).

    Pete, Sunnyvale

    John J. Dunphy is a moron.

    Pete, Sunnyvale

    I urge you newly minted 'humanists' to read 'The Law' http://bastiat.org/en/the_law.html

    Samantha, Syracuse

    I really resonated with this quote. I am a spiritual person and attend church but I must say some of the most hateful people I have ever encountered are church going people and I don't understand it. Jesus is all about love and acceptance. I find Humanitarians more often than not truly loving souls. Look at the religious right!!

    Tim, Battle Creek

    The heavens declare His glory, and the earth showeth His handiwork. Did man create himself, or his universe? Did an amoeba will itself into a man? Who are you O Man to question God?

    Ron, Brimfield

    What this quote shows is mans attempt to exemplify the qualities of God without God. Man will eventually though temporarily try this until Jesus returns. To Samantha--yes alot of Christians are angry and not showing the love of Jesus. It is true that Jesus is about love and acceptance. But also holiness and righteousness. One MUST remember what Jesus said: "Unless one is born again , they CANNOT see the kingdom of God (emphasis added). IOW with the Lord it is His way or hell forever! He died so no one would have to go, but He will not force anyone to make Him their Savior and Lord.

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