Victim and the victor: Humanism and new humanism in Chris Egharevba's <i>broken chains </i>

Abstract

New Humanism is as a reaction to the position of Modern Humanism. It attacks and discredits the latter's atheistic stance; however it agrees with Humanism that man has value and dignity; that his worth is inestimable, and this planet, earth is the temporary home of man. Yet the New Humanism argues that man's dignity is not sui generis i.e. man's dignity does not derive from man, nor does man confer inestimable value on another man (Udo Etuk 3), the value and dignity of man can therefore not be realizable until it is predicated on God - the One who gives man his being and existence. The Bible on which principles of New Humanism are based emphasises that sin separates man from the love of God and being so separated: man tends to think himself ‘the centre of all things.' In Chris Egharevba's Broken Chains the author upholds the view that “man is wolf to man” (Etuk: 3), hence the weaker man becomes a victim to the stronger man and spirits. On New Humanism and Broken Chains, the paper affirms that Humanity's dualism is the central tenet of New Humanism. The chains of fornication and adultery of victims like Dr Imasuen, Dr Osaze, Blossom, Daisy and Tonia were only broken and they became victors when they repented of their sins and accepted God's salvation.

Lwati: A Journal of Contemporary Research Vol. 4 () 2007: pp.151-163