Globalisation through inter-faith. The new global ethic is inspired by the Humanist Manifesto. What does the Bible say about humanism, the UNO, evolution, education, justice etc.?

The recent anti?globalisation riots in Genoa, Italy, during the meeting of the Group of Eight (G-8) leaders have again raised the question: Why does globalisation cause such tensions? Is it because the yielding of national sovereignty to international governance is so difficult? Or are there elements other than political and economic factors, issues which touch the very soul of humanity?

Religion in Politics as the Ultimate Pressure.
To effect globalisation is, of course, a difficult task, chiefly because of the divergent nature of men. Though being one in many respects, humanity is not really one. People differ in body, mind, soul, ability, religion and culture. All assurances of non?racialism and non-sexism cannot alter this fact. Globalisation can therefore only succeed if a common factor is found which overrides all human disparities. This common factor has been found in religion. In other words, unless the world's religions are synchronized first, unless a religious revolution takes place, globalisation cannot succeed. One delegate, who attended the 'United Nations Millennium World Peace Summit' in New York from 28-31 August, 2000, said afterwards: "Past agendas have failed, thus religion is to be reintroduced into politics as the ultimate pressure."1) She was talking about the United Nations, the chief instrument of globalisation, Religionhas become so important that the UN hosted the 'Millennium Peace Summit', gathering religious and spiritual leaders from all major religious traditions and all regions of the world. To boost internationalist politics these 'religious leaders' signed a 'Commitment to Global Peace' and pledged to address the pressing problems of conflict, poverty and the environment.

The new world order, then, can only succeed if it is Preceded by a worldwide religious revolution. The strict principles of individual religions must be removed. Intolerance factors must be cut out. Only then can humankind become One. Hence, inter-faith and multi-culture have been aggressively promoted all over the world. In the Christian West, for instance, whole denominations have embraced inter-faith ideas. As one after another tenet of faith falls, spiritual crises multiply. As one after another religious principle, commandment, statute or precept is abandoned, social and political unrest spreads.

Globalisation through Inter-Faith. The 'UN Millennium Peace Summit' was a follow-up of the 'Parliament of the World's Religions'(PWR) which was held in Cape Town from December 1-8, 1999. This 'parliament' lacked all the features of a legitimate, elected, and legislative body. However, in Cape Town, its insiders, the 'Council' of the 'Parliament' had put forward two things:

The first document, the "Call, " is a call to non?violence, to respect for life, solidarity, a just economic order, tolerance, truth and similar utopian socialist hopes. It is meant to address intolerance, racism, war, injustice, exploitation, and environmental problems. The second document, a "Global Ethic, " is necessity, they said, because "earth cannot be changed for the better unless the consciousness of individuals is changed first. " There can be "no new global order without a new global ethic! " Twenty months later this idea was again raised at the UN Millennium World Peace Summit. One observer declared: "Only a new set of shared beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviours can complete its [the UN's] utopian vision of the global community. To succeed, it needs the cooperation of spiritual leaders who will persuade their followers. " 2)

The father of the 'global ethic' is Prof. Hans Küng, a Swiss/German Catholic Professor of Tübingen, Germany. He has submitted the draft to various world leaders, gaining their approval. At the time of the 'Parliament of the World's Religions' in Cape Town Prof Küng explained that the 'global ethic' is built on four commandments on which all religions agree. You shall not kill. You shall not steal. You shall not lie. You shall not commit sexual immorality.

The God-centred commandments of the Decalogue have, of course, no place in the 'global ethic': "'I am the LORD your God; You shall have no other gods, You shall not make graven images; You shall not take God's name in vain; Keep the Sabbath day holy. - These commandments are deemed unsuitable for a world which embraces spiritual leaders who falsely regard themselves as gods, such as the Dalai Lama, who is venerated as the 14th incarnation of an Indian-Tibetan god. Even Prof. Küng, though teaching theology, does not see Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation - True Christians are in fact counted among the "peace spoilers". At the UN Millennium Peace Summit Rabbi Arthur Schneier, president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, said: "We have to marginalize religious leaders who are peace spoilers and are inciting hatred and nationalistic passions... We have a lot of those who are out there who are not in sync, and who are seeking to undermine our bridge-building efforts. " 3)

What is the Global Ethic?
The Global Ethic demands: "You shall not kill, " but it does not forbid the killing of unborn children. On the contrary, universal free abortion is an important demand of the world peace programme. The global ethic demands: "You shall not steal, " but it does not object to the legalized theft of socialism. On the contrary, socialism is the cornerstone of world peace. The global ethic demands: "You shall not lie, " but it promotes the lie that all religions are equal and every way leads to God. The global ethic demands. "You shall not commit sexual immorality, " but it condones homosexuality. ? In short~ the 'global ethic' is totally contrary to Christianity. It is a man?centred philosophy to undergird socialist/humanist/communist endeavours.

If we wonder where its ideas come from, we need look no further than the Humanist Manifestos of 193 3 and 1973. ? In 1933 a prominent group of Humanists set out to "establish a religion " for the "needs of the present" as a "synthesizing and dynamic force. " The Humanist Manifesto No. 1 lists as its first principle: There is no Creator. The universe is "self-existing and not created " Man is not made in God's image. He is an evolved animal,a "part of nature [that] has emerged as the result of a continuous process. " There is no God-given moral Law, they say, no "supernatural or cosmic guarantees of human values. " Ethics is autonomous and situational. Each person can act as he pleases. "We strive for the good life, here and now. " The chief end of man, they say, is '~personal satisfaction " and the "complete realization of human personality. " - But is this true? No! The Bible says: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. " He made man in His own image, after His likeness. He gave the moral Law, the "two tables of the testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God " (Ex. 31:18). The chief end of man is not to enjoy or fulfill himself, but "to glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever. " (Westminster Catechism)

The Humanist Manifesto No. 2 (of 1973) contains "a set of principles that can serve as a basis for united action... They are "a design for a secular society on a planetary scale. " It declares that we arc standing "at the dawn ofa new age " whose paramount principle is "human need". -"We begin with humans not God, " it says, "with nature not deity... " -"No deity will save us; we must save ourselves. " - This attitude is repeated by all globalists, whether 'spiritual' or political. " We must save our planet. We must save ourselves, " they say. Their projected 'scenarios' of disaster (overpopulation, hunger, war, destruction of the planet etc) become ever more frightening. Revolutions and violence seem to increase. Envy and covetousness appear to reign. Is it any wonder that people, sorely tried in their faith, find relief through utopian visions and promises, and that they submit to globalists who offer them 'peace'?

Though the multi-faith movement affirms a pantheon of gods, its ethics are humanistic and secular. Its world view is based on the Theory of Evolution, which denies the triune, Creator God. To counter the destructive role which the inter-faith movement plays in globalisation the "International Christian Network", led by Prof Peter Beyerhaus of Germany, warns all Christians against the dangers of syncretism and inter-faith. In a Declaration entitled: "No other Name, " they state: "Concerning the end times, Jesus Christ Himself foretells increased activity by false Christs (Matt. 24:23-25). He also foretells an anti?Christian universal empire founded on synchronized ideals. (Rev. 13:17, 13). According to many Bible scholars this could be a universal religion embodying all faiths and ideologies and, we fear, might include a syncretistically accommodating anti-church, which is in the making. One must anticipate that this antichristian universal world religion (or church) may initiate the last and most serious persecution of the truly faithful Church of Jesus Christ. (Rev 12:17; 13:15b; 17:6) 4)

But then comes the word of encouragement: "We encourage all church members, " writes Prof Beyerhaus in the Declaration, "to consciously reaffirm their sorely tested faith. God gives us assurance through His Word and lets us experience the saving power of the Gospel. Let us not be fascinated by the assertive demeanor of representatives of alien religions, nor be shocked, nor be provoked to aggression. For, at every encounter, the glorified Christ stands invisibly by our side. He comforts and assures us, saying: '"at you are to say will be given to you; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you'. " (Matt. 10: 18-20)- Let us heed these words also in South Africa. Let us deepen our own faith by reading and learning the Word of God, and let us support every Christian cause which glorifies Christ and establishes 'everything that He has commanded us.' (Matt. 28:20)

May God bless you richly,
D. Scarborough.

Footnotes:
I. Report by June Griffn who attended the 'UN World Peace Sumnut. 28?31 August, 2000, with the help of Jesse Helms, www.crossroad.to
2. Berit Kjos, Two UIN Summits, One Millennium Goal: Conforming Humanity to Socialist Solidarity, www.crossroadto
3. Gustav Niebuhr, "Religion's many Faces meet in New.York for Peace." New York Times,31 August, 2000.
4. "Kein andrer Name!" Theologische Erkldrung zur Beurteilung der Religionen im Ucht des Evangeliums,, Diakrisis, Februar 2000.