The Enlightenment Delusion: How Secularism Undermined Human Dignity w/ Richard Weikart

The Enlightenment Delusion: How Secularism Undermined Human Dignity

The Enlightenment promised reason, progress, and liberation from superstition. But did it also erode the very foundation of human dignity? In my latest video, I explore how Enlightenment philosophy set the stage for secularism, materialism, and a worldview that stripped human life of its intrinsic value.

What I Cover:

• The Rise of Reason—and the Rejection of Revelation
  The Enlightenment was a turning point in history. It championed reason and science, but it also dismissed religious tradition, miracles, and divine purpose as mere superstition. Thinkers like David Hume and Voltaire sought to explain the world without God—leading to a seismic shift in philosophy.

• Darwinism and the Dehumanization of Life
  Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution reshaped biology—but it also reshaped morality. If humanity is just another product of random mutation, where does human dignity come from? Social Darwinism followed, applying survival-of-the-fittest logic to politics, economics, and even race.

• From Utilitarianism to Marxism: The Death of Objective Morality
  As secular philosophies advanced, morality became relative. Thinkers like Jeremy Bentham reduced ethics to the pursuit of pleasure, while Karl Marx saw religion as an obstacle to progress. Both led to ideologies that prioritized power and efficiency over individual worth.

• The Modern Crisis: Can a Society Survive Without a Moral Foundation?
  Today, we live in the wake of these ideas. Moral relativism dominates. The pursuit of happiness has been reduced to hedonism. Secularism struggles to offer a compelling reason for human rights. How did we get here—and is there a way back?

Why This Matters

This isn’t just a history lesson—it’s about the fundamental question of what it means to be human. The Enlightenment reshaped the world, but at what cost? If we abandon the belief that life has inherent meaning, what takes its place?

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