Secularism: Politics, Religion, and Freedom

by Andrew Copson

Until the modern period the integration of church (or other religion) and state (or political life) had been taken for granted. The political order was always tied to an official religion in Christian Europe, pre-Christian Europe, and in the Arabic world. But from the eighteenth century
onwards, some European states began to set up their political order on a different basis. Not religion, but the rule of law through non-religious values embedded in constitutions became the foundation of some states -- a movement we now call secularism. In others, a de facto secularism emerged as
political values and civil and criminal law altered their professed foundation from a shared religion to a non-religious basis.

Today secularism is an increasingly hottopic in public, political, and religious debate across the globe. It is embodied in the conflict between secular republics -- from the US to India -- and the challenges they face from resurgent religious identity politics; in the challenges faced by religious
states like those of the Arab world from insurgent secularists; and in states like China where calls for freedom of belief are challenging a state imposed non-religious worldview. In this short introduction Andrew Copson tells the story of secularism, taking in momentous episodes in world history,
such as the great transition of Europe from religious orthodoxy to pluralism, the global struggle for human rights and democracy, and the origins of modernity. He also considers the role of secularism when engaging with some of the most contentious political and legal issues of our
"blasphemy," "apostasy," religious persecution, religious discrimination, religious schools, and freedom of belief and thought in a divided world.

Genres: Politics, Philosophy, Religion, Nonfiction, History, Atheism, Social Justice

176 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 2017

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won from a Goodreads giveaway

"If we do not attempt progress towards it, especially at a time of heightened global tensions and confrontations, the future may be as grim as the days of the wars of religion that first made secularism so necessary."
- Andrew Copson, Secularism: Politics, Religion, and Freedom

The very people who would benefit the most from reading this book, are the least likely to do so. Copson does a great job of explaining why secularism is so important for the religious and non-religious alike, and how it can help to keep the peace in an increasingly diverse world.

As an American(especially one in the Bible Belt), I find it unfortunate that in a society where so many have benefited from secularism, that so many don't understand why it is important, or in some cases, don't believe it beneficial to them. There are people who complain about sharia law, yet believe their country would be better off as a country based around Christian principles. They refuse to see that their very desires could have a negative effect on themselves, since how they view Christianity might be vastly more moderate than an individual who ends up in power making the laws.

While that type of person may never pick up a book like this, it can certainly help better educate those of who are willing to do so, so that we might spread the knowledge.

[Timothy Urban · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secularism isn't about keeping religion down, it's about making a society where you can believe what you like without fear or disadvantage. It's a very interesting problem.

This book - the first of its kind I think - explores this idea by looking particularly at France, USA, Turkey and India - all constitutionally secular, each coming at the problem from a different place.

The chapter called The Argument Against Secularism is the most fascinating read as it gets into so many real-world examples, painting a picture of just how hard it is to give everyone an equality of religious freedom, or freedom to be atheistic.

Other chapters can be quite dry, which was a surprise mostly because Andrew Copson is a very funny, personable individual and an entertaining public speaker. Maybe the text will loosen up just a little in a second edition.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good primer on secularism and the history surrounding the topic. Short and brief but I think that was the point. I definitely learned things about a topic that interests me which was kinda my reason for reading this so 👍 Also, it helped me think about the issue of secularism in a different way than I had previously and how it can be used to mask religious discrimination. I love when a book can show me different insights like that.

[Blair Hodges · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise book intended to demonstrate secularism as not being a single ideology but rather a collection of ideas that play out in different ways depending on context. Secularism and religion can coexist. In fact, religion as I tend to understand it depends on secularism as much as secularism can benefit from religion.

[William Nist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Handy introduction to the nature, history and significance of Secularism. The case for and against secularism is discussed as well as the changing dynamics of secularism is current nation states. India and Turkey are two of the authors interesting examples.

I am putting this title on my "Suggested Reading" page in our local Freethinkers group.

[Luke Dabin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tore through this in one day! A surprisingly fluid read with good focus on non-European secularism (Turkey and India are case studies) as well as the historical origins and future challenges of this philosophy.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very concise but broad look at secularism and its historic and present implementation- authored by the president of the humanist society with a bias firmly from that viewpoint, albeit he does attempt to provide some discussion of opposing views. Interesting.

[The Adventures of a French Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an interesting introduction, however I felt like the briefness of the book was sometimes a disservice, because it prevented a more detailed/nuanced insight. Also, the writing can be sometimes dry, especially in the first half of the book (perhaps I got used to it after...)

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear, concise, fair-minded and well-written introduction to a vast and complex subject. Copson deftly describes the history of secularism - including diverse traditions such as India as well as the more familiar (to Western readers) narrative of Rousseau, Locke, the French revolution and the founding fathers. He then gives a cogent summary of the tangled philosophical and political issues and arguments around secularism today, neatly establishing exactly why it remains the best hope for peaceful co-existence.
He finishes with a warning, titled 'Secularism under threat as never before'.
An informative and - despite the sometimes dry subject matter - entertaining read, recommended for anyone with an interest in how politics and religion interact (which, given what a crucial issue this is, really ought to be everyone).

[Zoie Cowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but it was not what I thought it would be. I always assumed secularism had a greater chance of being objectively moral because it wasn’t influenced by religion, but the author made great points as to the lack of neutrality in it. Even in a secular framework, it’s inherently anti religion. And if a country full of mostly one religion attempts to be secular, it’s still secular within the context of that one religion.

I thought this was very interesting and a great point to make, but it left me wondering if politics could ever actually be neutral or if it’s better lean into pluralism rather than secularism to achieve maximum freedom for all of society, including freedom of thought.

[Abbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will absolutely be recommending this book to those who are confused about Secularism vs. Atheism. Copson does a fantastic job at illustrating theocratic government examples, pure secularist government examples, and too far left secularism examples. He provides a middle ground and nuanced solution that is hard to argue against. He even humbled me, a huge proponent of secularism with a few of his examples of how it can go too far. It was a thought provoking read that I would recommend to others to spark a good conversation.

[Zahida Zahoor · Rating 2 out of 5]

A difficult read, with the first half of the book being very dry. It felt like reading a PhD or a Master thesis rather than a fact or guide book. The second half of the book made the book disjointed but was more accessible. The author does make a good job of highlighting the importance of creating a fair and equal circular society.

[Jordan Phizacklea-Cullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise and well-researched examination of a complex standpoint, assessing how it can be successfully and unsuccessfully administered by governments, fair-minded enough to have even Rowan Williams giving a positive review on the cover.

[Shania · Rating 4 out of 5]

The review of different kinds of secularism in the first half of the book was interesting. The overall structure is clear. However, i feel the book lacks a strong argument and there is no clear conclusion.

[Dorian Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

review to come

[Gary McLelland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written and thorough overview of secularism around the world.

[Fraser Sutherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great summary of secularism, how it has developed as a political settlement and the current challenges faced in the world today.

[John Hubbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid overview of modern secularism that has a brevity tu which allows one’s mind to explore the situations he talks about.

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I knew a lot about secularism, but actually it turns out I didn't. A very good explanation of a complex subject.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small book, big message. This book is a wonderful primer on the often misunderstood and sometimes vilified concept of secularism, what it is, different ways it can be expressed, and most important of all, why it is so vitally important to democracy and (strange as it may seem) religious freedom.

[Shashank Sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a fairly balanced book and it does give a good introduction to secularism.

On pg 119 however he refers to people from other religions as advocates and protestors but calls Hindus Extremists? Extremists because they protested in the west against Amazon and ali-baba for selling merchandise depicting pornographic images of their deities, for the depiction of their deities on shoes and door mats?

For the sake of appearing neutral and balanced he is calling American Hindus extremists for peacefully protesting? I may or may not agree with their outrage on how their gods are depicted but to call them Hindu extremists is absurd and illogical.

[Harley Wykes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to secularism, that could have defined what religion actually is a little bit better so that we have something to contrast it with.

[Tyler Hurst · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction, but not much more.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short but dense book which examines secularism throughout history, and raises the question of its future in the context of the modern world. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys reading about international politics.