XVII

XVII.) BJCPA and Humanism: Working Together for Religious Liberty.

1. The purpose of this page of our BJC flyer on humanism was to show the extreme hypocrisy of Dunn’s statement at the top of our flyer: “A whole herd of religion doers, simple and sophisticated, have nominated the godless, secular humanist media elite as the enemy. They have trouble defining secular humanism, identifying the persons involved or even pointing to the organizations in this ‘well organized’ conspiracy…” This statement came from Dunn’s monthly editorial in the BJC’s journal. Our point is that Dunn knows perfectly well who the humanists are, what they believe and what their agenda is. Dunn has featured the president of the American Humanist Association in the BJC’s journal as recently as July of 1996. Dunn serves on the boards of at least two organizations -- Americans United and PEARL (Public Education and Religious Liberty) -- with leading humanists. Americans United has included in leadership positions as many as 10 signers of the Humanist Manifesto II. Seven of the organizational members of PEARL are explicitly humanist. Edd Doerr, president of the American Humanist Association also serves on the PEARL board of directors with Dunn. Former BJC executive director, James E. Wood Jr., who serves on the board of Doerr’s religious liberty group (Americans for Religious Liberty), is also a member of PEARL’s board. The real significance of this page is in Dunn’s attempt to deceive those who read the BJC’s journal about the BJC’s involvement with leading humanists. Dunn’s insinuation that conservative Christians are incapable of “defining secular humanism,” “identifying the persons involved” or “pointing to the organizations,” reflects his arrogance and the lack of accountability the BJC has had over the years. Neither is Dunn the only religious leader to act as though humanism is undefinable and that humanists do not exist. John H. Buchanan Jr., a speaker at the BJC’s 1996, 60^th Anniversary conference, stated in a debate with Jimmy Swaggart in 1986: “When you deplore sin, I deplore it too. When you deplore secular humanism, I deplore it too… Let me tell you something, brother, I base my faith on the Bible, too…” (Church and State, March, 1986, p.15) In 1987, Buchanan stated: “’Secular humanism’ is a straw man created by Religious Right leaders…” (Church and State, April, 1987, p. 11) But by 1988, Buchanan was the “featured speaker” at the “1988 All-Florida Humanist Conference.” (Free Mind, March/April, 1988, p. 4) Buchanan has been a top leader at PAW since its founding in the early 1980’s as well as a staunch ally of the BJC.

In the July/August 1996 issue of the Humanist, on a page entitled “Humanist Resources,” (page 48) Americans United for Separation of Church and State is listed under the subtitle “Virtual Humanism.” This reflects very accurately how the American Humanist Association views Americans United. James Dunn has served as a trustee/secretary of the board of trustees since 1981. This is the inner circle of 15 that guides and directs that organization.

2. On October 6 and 7, 1995, at the University of Richmond, a Virginia Baptist college, “an historic dialogue convened” between “Baptist and secular humanist scholars… to find some common ground.” This is the opening statement in a “Declaration” published in Free Inquiry, “a secular humanist magazine.” The statement was entitled: “In Defense of Freedom of Conscience: A Cooperative Baptist/Secular Humanist Declaration.” According to the statement: “The Dialogue focused on the following areas of concern: (1) Academic Freedom; (2) Biblical Scholarship; (3) Separation of Church and State; (4) Pluralistic Democracy. This Declaration presents a consensus statement. Although not necessarily agreeing with every detail in the Declaration, those who endorse it accept its general terms and are committed to further cooperation.” (Free Inquiry, Winter, 1995/96, p. 4) Among the Baptist leaders signing the Declaration were: Robert Alley, professor emeritus of Humanities, University of Richmond, Stan Hastey, executive director of the Alliance of Baptists and former associate director of the BJC; Glenn Hinson, professor of Spirituality and Worship at the CBF-supported Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond; and Paul Simmons, former professor of Christian Ethics, Southern Seminary and currently chairman of the CBF of Kentucky’s theological education committee. Among the secular humanist signers were: Paul Kurtz, editor of Free Inquiry, former editor of the Humanist magazine and signer of Humanist Manifesto II; Thomas W. Flynn, senior editor of Free Inquiry; Norm Allen, executive director, African-Americans for Humanism; Timothy J. Madigan, executive editor, Free Inquiry; Gerald Larue, professor emeritus of biblical archaeology, University of Southern California and member of the editorial board of the Humanist magazine; and Lois Porter, associate editor, Free Inquiry. How do secular humanists view Biblical Christianity? According to “A Statement of Principles and Values,” published on the back page of the Free Inquiry magazine: “We deplore efforts to denigrate human intelligence, to seek to explain the world in supernatural terms, and to look outside nature for salvation.” (Winter 1990/91) The question then arises, why would a group of Baptist leaders want to work together with a group of “secular humanists” (atheists) on “Biblical Scholarship?”

In an interview with Fred Edwords, executive director of the American Humanist Association (AHA), the largest organized group of atheists in the United States, Mr. Edwords stated: “Among both religious and secular humanists you will find many deeply interested in modern Biblical scholarship. Modern Biblical scholarship, which is taught in most seminaries across the country, has started many seminary students on the path toward humanism.” (Religious and secular humanists are both atheistic, but differ primarily in their view of religion.) When asked to define modern Biblical scholarship, Mr. Edwords identified various “aspects” of Higher Criticism, including: Documentary Hypothesis; Historical-Critical Methodology; and Demythologization. Among the well-known Biblical scholars Mr. Edwords pointed to were: Karl Barth; Rudolph Bultmann; and Richard and Reinhold Niebuhr. (Interviews with Fred Edwords, June 4 & 5 1997. Mr. Edwords noted that Biblical scholarship was not his specialty and for more in depth information referred me to Dr. Gerald Larue.) When it was discovered that this same approach to Scripture had begun to infect our SBC seminaries, SBC conservatives voiced their strong opposition and the “controversy” began. And though SBC conservatives and “moderates” have differed on what approach to the Bible should be employed in our seminaries, leaders of the American Humanist Association have been clear… As Mr. Edwords noted, “modern Biblical scholarship,” a humanistic approach to Scripture, “has started many seminary students on the path toward humanism.” This further shows the compatibility between groups like the BJC and the AHA. Not only is there agreement in their definition and approach to religious liberty and church/state separation, there is also agreement in their approach to Scripture. Long time Southern Baptist professor Robert Alley, who signed the Baptist/Secular Humanist Declaration, identifies himself as a humanist (Free Inquiry, Summer, 1982, p.9); is a contributing editor of Free Inquiry (a secular humanist magazine); and serves on Americans United’s board of trustees with James Dunn. Alley lost his chairmanship of the Department of Religion at the University of Richmond for his statement: “I don’t imagine for a minute that [Jesus] would have had the audacity to claim the deity for himself.” When AHA executive director Fred Edwords was asked if professor Robert Alley were an atheist, Mr. Edwords responded: “My sentiment is that he is. I mean, He certainly has no problem hanging out with atheist. I see him at various events that Paul Kurtz [head of the secular humanist group] puts on. I’ve talked to him and I’ve listened to him talk and he certainly sounds just like the rest of us.” (Interview with Fred Edwords, June 4, 1997) Glenn Hinson and Stan Hastey, also signers of the Baptist/Secular Humanist Declaration, both led “breakout sessions” at the 1996 General Assembly of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Both Hastey and Paul Simmons have served with Dunn on the governing board of Americans United. Hastey is a former 15 year staffer at the BJC where he also served as associate director.

3. Mr. Tichenor accuses us of an error on this page. This appears to be the only place where we are accused of being wrong with a specific citation. All others areas of disagreement, Mr. Tichenor uses his many phrases - “worthless allegations” - “total lack of truth” - “guilt by association” etc., to describe our un-enlightened view of the BJC. Our supposed error is that R. G. Puckett never served as chairman of the board of the BJC. However, according to Baptist Press, back when moderates controlled the SBC news agency, BP writer Dan Martin declared Puckett to be chairman of the BJC’s board and interviewed him as the BJC’s chairman. (BP article appearing in the Texas Baptist Standard, Jan. 25, 1984, p.3) Other articles citing Puckett as chairman of the BJC include a July 1, 1983 BP article entitled “Public Affairs Committee Disclaims Chairman’s Letter,” and an article appearing in the Raleigh N.C. News and Observer, June 15, 1983, p. 1C. But most specifically, the BJC’s 1983-84 Board of Directors Roster lists Puckett as “Chairperson.” Our conclusion is that Mr. Tichenor is again wrong in his statement.

4. Mr. Tichenor states: “The BJC works with humanists on those occasions when it is appropriate to join them in a coalitional effort to defend religious liberty, because it is through coalitions that things get done in Washington.” Here again, the BJC uses religious liberty as its front to cover their activities. But even more important, there seems to be no activities, no statements or no associations that matter to Mr. Tichenor. Not one time throughout his entire response to our BJC flyer did Mr. Tichenor say that anything was wrong, inappropriate or even poor judgment on the part of the BJC.

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