Historic & Practical Distinction Between Christian & Secular Humanism

First of all, what is humanism? Humanism simply put is a philosophy or worldview esteeming human value. Hence, humanism can be both religious and irreligious. However, today Western civilization finds itself wedged between two very popular yet distinctive forms of humanism, Christian humanism and secular humanism.

In order to understand both the historical and practical distinctions between Christian humanism and secular humanism, one must first examine the origins of the word. The term humanism is historically linked to pre-Socratic philosophers who rejected the popular, mystical interpretations of man and the world around him for what they believed to be more "rational" explanations. These men believed in empirical knowledge as opposed to mystical, unfounded religious belief. For example, it was sixth century B.C. Thales of Miletus who came up with the maxim "Know thyself". Another prominent Greek philosopher, poet and critic of that time, Xanophanes, took a more abstract view of divinity, rejecting the popular gods of his day.