Gospel Doctrine Commentary
Lesson No. Twenty-Seven

Religious Liberty, Secular Humanism, and Moral Relativism

Principles of good government protect belief but punish crime – In a society that is blessed with good government “there [is] no law against a man’s belief; for it [is] strictly contrary to the commandments of God that there should be a law which should bring men on to unequal grounds” but “there was a law that men should be judged according to their crimes.  Nevertheless, there was no law against a man’s belief; therefore, a man was punished only for the crimes which he had done; therefore all men were on equal grounds” (Alma 30:7, 11).

There are many similarities to Korihor and his teachings in our day – Mormon, after setting forth the importance of protecting belief and punishing crime introduces us to Korihor.

Alma Confronting Korihor

Secular humanism is one of the prevailing philosophies of our time – Korihor taught "every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength” (Alma 30:17).  This is the law of the jungle.  The philosophy of secular humanism teaches that that mankind is so capable, talented, and learned that we do not need God because we can do for ourselves whatever is necessary.  Humanism embraces the pride of self-sufficiency, the antidote for which is humility.  It also embraces the pride of comparison and competition, the antidote for which is love.

  • Humanists deny the existence of anything beyond that which could be discerned by the physical senses. All else is a product of false traditions and deranged minds (See Alma 30: 14-16).
  • To the humanist seeing is believing. You cannot believe things which you don't see. Show me a sign and I will believe. On the other hand, the gospel teaches us that believing is seeing. "But behold faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe” (D&C 63:9).
  • Alma asks Korihor:  “what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not?”  Alma then answers his own question:  “I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only” (Alma 30:40).  No one can provide any evidence that God does not exist. 
  • Science should be neutral concerning religion. The scientific method restricts scientists to making statements only about things that can be observed through the physical senses. Whenever a person goes beyond this they are acting as a philosopher and/or preacher and not as scientists. Religion can't be proved or disproved through the physical senses, and so therefore it is outside of the scope of scientific inquiry.

Moral relativism is the belief that there is no absolute right and wrong – This is another of the prevailing philosophies of our day.  Korihor also taught “that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men” presumably because there is no sin, therefore “whatsoever a man did was no crime" (Alma 30: 17).  Moral relativism removes any restrictions from people doing anything they desire.

  • Moral relativism does not believe in the need for repentance because there is no sin.  Korihor teaches a half-truth by suggesting the gospel teaches that people are both guilty and fallen because of Adam.  (See Alma 30:25)  A true understanding of the gospel teaches that the fall of Adam brought physical death, and the atonement of Christ provides that all will be resurrected.  We bring on ourselves spiritual death through sin, and we are redeemed from our sins by the atonement of Christ on the condition that we will repent.
  • Moral relativists often claim that people who keep the commandments are following foolish and outdated traditions.  They are in bondage and yoked by the whims of their leaders.  Therefore, they are not able to enjoy their rights and privileges.  (See Alma 27:28)
  • Wicked men seek to suppress religious freedom and tolerance, even using force if necessary to impose their views (Alma 1:6-12).

Lessons for our day from the life and philosophies of Korihor

  • Religious liberty is both the privilege to believe in God and also the ability to serve him.  An important part of serving God is to be able to live as we believe.  There are those today who say in effect believe what you want but do not try to live and apply those beliefs in your life.  This is a serious threat to religious liberty.  The Book of Mormon teaches a concept that many people do not understand – that those who believe in God must also be able to serve him:  “Now if a man desired to serve God, it was his privilege; or rather if he believed in God it was his privilege to serve him” (Alma 30:9).  Religious liberty is both the privilege to believe in God and also the right to serve him by living as we believe.
  • The philosophies of secular humanism and moral relativism promote rampant immorality “leading away the hearts of many, causing them to lift up their heads in their wickedness, yea, leading away many women, and also men, to commit whoredoms – telling them that when a man was dead, that was the end thereof” (Alma 30:18).
  • Korihor and others like him often advance their ideas by mocking and intimidating others' beliefs (See Alma 30: 13-31).
  • There are those like Korihor who “rise up in great swelling words” and revile against those who oppose them “accusing them of leading away the people after the silly traditions of their fathers, for the sake of glutting on the labors of the people” (Alma 30:31).
  • From the life and death of Korihor, as set forth in Alma 30, “we see that the devil will not support his children at the las day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell” (Alma 30:60).