As a nation we continue to grieve over the tragedies at Newtown, Conn., and elsewhere.

Now we have become a nation that appears on a rampage to buy more and more firearms and ammunition than ever before because of fears (concerns) that the government will put restrictions on guns and ammunition. Folks, more guns will never solve a problem that is not based on guns. Our violence comes from a “heart” problem, and only God can change that.

As a follower of Jesus Christ I hold strongly to what the Bible teaches. It speaks to the issue of good and evil, wisdom and foolishness. The Bible faces man with absolute moral choices and consequences.

 Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

A more sobering Biblical scripture is found in Romans 1:28-32. “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer (or “to have God in their system of knowledge”), God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; gossips, slanderers, hateful to God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”

If the above scriptures are true, we must make a fundamental change in the philosophy of our society. We are rapidly becoming a society based on moral relativism and secularism. It pervades our “public” education, mental health treatment, government institutions, law courts and lawyers, sports and entertainment.

In 1980 I wrote a letter to the superintendent of schools for District 5. In my research into our “public” school philosophy at that time the topic of “secular humanism” kept coming to the front. I believe some 32 years later this philosophy continues to under-gird and dominate in a deeper way much of our “public” school education, health care and mental health care, government, etc. Its primary tenets, as definied by various Humanist Manifestos, are as follows:

The first tenet of secular humanism denies the relevance of deity or supernatural agencies.

The second tenet of secular humanism is the belief in the supremacy of human reason.

The third tenet of secular humanism is the belief in the inevitability of progress.

The fourth tenet of secular humanism is the belief in science as the guide to human reason.

The fifth tenet of the religion of secular humanism is the belief in the self-sufficiency and centrality of man.

The sixth tenet of secular humanism is the belief in the absolutism of evolution.

In brief, secular humanism considers man sufficient to guide his own destiny, solve his own problems and develop positively without God. Since modern man is the highest development of evolution we have no one higher than ourselves to be accountable to. Thus man replaces God as sovereign and source of life and power. This can breed hopelessness in some and pride and arrogance in others.

Those who hide behind the so called “separation between church and state” idea are hiding behind a misconception and using it as an excuse. When man pushes God and His ways out of our learning structures of school, home, health care, government, sports and entertainment, etc., God cannot and will not honor that ungodly system.

Thus, according to the above, our nation has been led to embrace an educational philosophy and system and an overall way of life that in itself does not teach true wisdom and knowledge. Instead it has the strong tendency to produce godless, corrupt, violent and immoral people unless these people are strongly influenced from outside — in the home and church especially. Given the big part that “public” schools play in the education of so many of our children, it should be no surprise that more and more families are turning to alternate schooling for their children.

What can be done?

—I believe that every community in America has the responsibility to take ownership for the way of life we believe is right and not allow overarching federal or state governments to mandate an often ungodly and destructive way of life.

—Churches need to be actively praying for our schools and teachers.

—Community leaders and citizens must get together, pray, discuss ways to cooperate more fully together between home, church and school. We can emphasize the importance of God and faith in the classroom but not instruct in details. This is the responsibility of the home and the church. Our nation, its government and its schools, was founded on a strong belief in the Bible and Christ and Christian teaching and morals.

—We can teach creation along with evolution without being dogmatic about either. Let’s be objective in our education!

—We can make our schools more available for afterschool use by religious groups and during school for religious clubs on the secondary level.

—We can inform our parents, students and teachers about their legal rights concerning the practice of their faith in the public arena.

—Our schools can encourage seeking the help of qualified spiritual counselors when dealing in areas of depression, anger, fear, etc. These areas are all addressed in the Bible and solutions given. What about school chaplains? We do this in our military.

 Somehow we must learn to pull together as a community to instill in our children and youth that there is an Almighty God who loves us and is seeking to have a prominent place in our lives. A proper view of God leads to accountability and responsibility. Without this I fear for our youth, our communities and our nation. Without God in His proper place there is no “safe” place.

Ken Young is a resident of Kalispell.