The Religion of Our Secular World

Did you know that even secular individuals hold religious-like beliefs? Dr. Sri examines the secular world’s values, promises of salvation, and utopian ideals, and contrasts these with the core tenets of the Gospel. He revisits the five key aspects of the Kerygma—relationship, rebellion, reconciliation, recreation, and response—and explains how the secular vision borrows from and distorts these principles.

Shownotes

In today's world, many people, even those who identify as non-religious or secular, might be living according to a belief system that resembles a type of religion. In this exploration, we discuss how the secular worldview shapes individuals similarly to a religious system but contrasts profoundly with the Catholic Gospel.

Secular Religion vs. Catholic Gospel

The secular worldview might surprise us by how religious it appears. People's systems of values, their visions for the world, and even a sense of right and wrong come from a worldview offering its own narrative of salvation and redemption, one that often borrows from, but ultimately departs from, the Christian story.

Five Points of the Gospel

1. Relationship: The Catholic understanding is that God created us for a relationship out of love, aiming for us to be with Him eternally. In contrast, the secular viewpoint often implies our existence is by chance, void of intrinsic meaning.

2. Rebellion: Christians acknowledge suffering as a result of original sin, where personal failings contribute to the world's problems. Secularism tends to blame external factors, suggesting the problem always lies outside oneself.

3. Reconciliation: While the Gospel tells of God seeking us out and offering salvation through Christ, the secular perspective often posits that humanity can save itself through its advancements and revolutions.

4. Recreation: Christians believe in spiritual transformation through grace, whereas the secular world champions self-creation, defining one's truth and existence independently of God. 

5. Response: The Catholic call to follow Christ involves a life of service and love, while the secular approach invites participation in societal revolutions promising utopian outcomes, with minimal personal moral demands.

Dr. Sri's Events List (2025)

• Sept 13 - Marriage Weekend - Fort Collins, CO
• Sept 20 - Eucharist Encounter - Tampa FL
• Aug 9: Emmaus: Diocesan Family Conference - Gary, IN
• Oct 8: Legatus - Jacksonville, FL
• Oct 11 - Love and Responsibility Conference - Los Angeles CA
• Oct 13-15 - Madison WI
• Oct 22-24 - Missionaries of Charity - Memphis TN