When the Secular becomes Sacred: Religious Secular Humanism and its Effects upon America's Public Learning Institutions

When the Secular Becomes Sacred: Religious Secular Humanism and its Effects Upon America’s Public Learning Institutionsis an analysis of American K-16 public learning institutions from a unique perspective. Secular teachings, such as social-emotional learning, and sexual and identity philosophies, are behind movements to capture the minds and hearts of America’s students. Contemporary learning institutions resemble places of worship in several ways. This book will explain how this is the case. From educational philosophy to classroom practices, this book exposes tactical intersections between secular humanism and religion. In today’s secular culture there is strong evidence to support the notion that worship of the self, the individual, has usurped the historically sacred place reserved for a transcendent deity. The fact is that this worship of the individual is certainly more fashionable and attractive than traditional orthodoxy or evangelical theology, in a today’s society. Bolstering this self-worship are mandated programs, such as those found in states’ controversial History-Social Science Frameworks, English-Language Arts Frameworks, and new sex education programs. The intention of this book is to provide the reader a realistic look into the effects of religious humanism upon America’s schools and students. Readers will be challenged with the notion that separation of church and state is being ignored for the political advantage of some. Furthermore, the reader will be presented with the argument that self-worship has become more attractive than traditional Judeo-Christian religious teachings, leading to the individual becoming both the worshipper and the object of such self-worship.

Table of Contents:
List of Tables Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Humanism: Secular and Religious Chapter 2: Education as Religion Chapter 3: The God of Self Chapter 4: Cracks in the Ivory Towers Chapter 5: Seeking Converts Chapter 6: Is Public Education Too Far Gone? Index About the Author

About the Author :
Ernest J. Zarra IIIis a lifelong educator. He has authored thirteen books and over a dozen journal articles, served as a district professional development leader, presented as keynote speaker for various educational organizations, and served as assistant professor of teacher education at Lewis-Clark State College.

Review :
Dr. Ernie Zarra has written When the Secular Becomes Sacred to help us to understand what more and more families are witnessing first-hand. American culture and public learning institutions are complicit in laying the foundation for radical changes, beginning with our nation’s students. These changes strike at the very core of the nuclear family. Zarra exposes the influences of secular culture, especially as these are found in contemporary political, gender, and sexual identity movements. In doing so, he challenges the reader to contemplate America’s culture as it emerges from the Ivory Towers and is shaped by the media and political forces. Before reading When the Secular Becomes Sacred, I couldn’t put my finger on what I saw happening in our culture. Humanism as a philosophy is nothing new but assuming the place of a national religion is a dramatic shift. Dr. Ernie Zarra, with well researched details, explains how this has happened in our schools and within society as a whole. Every educator and concerned person needs to read this book with great attention. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” So says an ancient Jewish proverb. New ways of thinking are going viral, transforming the traditional ways we see reality. In When the Secular Becomes Sacred, Dr. Ernie Zarra makes both a thorough and convincing case for secular humanism as the parent of these new orthodoxies. He goes further, arguing that humanism is now our society’s leading religion, and that its impacts upon students should be of concern to all. I have found Dr. Ernie Zarra's latest book, When the Secular Becomes Sacred, to be very thought-provoking! From start to finish, Dr. Zarra examines our increasingly divided nation and asks the questions that must be asked if we are to remain a civilized and respectful society. He explains we must not ignore the failures of past civilizations, whose collapses were brought about by cultural confusion, and selfish, myopic humanistic ideas--the likes of which we see in our own society today. Seriously, open-minded leaders ought to read this book and heed its findings. If not, then American society will fall victim from within, as many others have fallen throughout history.