The Need to Complete the Secularization of Society

Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism 18 (2):25-34 (2010)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

It is argued here that our future depends on our completing the secularization of society. This means addressing the problem of authoritarian religions that suppress freedom of belief and opinion. We must promote a post-religious humanism to deal with this problem. This is no more than reviving the humanist consensus which all the major religions acknowledged at least till the 1970s. Until then a comparative religion movement sought to construct a world religion but its endeavours have come to nothing. Secularization means that religious sentiments belong to individuals who work them out for themselves. These sentiments are no longer the prerogative of organizations that impose them on individuals. It is for everyone to develop their own creed on humanist principles. This humanist message contributes to a world monoculture which is now being established everywhere and on which the world’s future peace and security depends.

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 101,636

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Why Isn’t Humanism the Preeminent Belief of Humankind?Jennifer Hancock - 2012 - Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism 20 (2):105-114.
The Humanist Heritage.Robert D. Finch - 2006 - Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism 14:29-49.
Editorial Welcome.John Shook - 2012 - Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism 20 (2):1-2.
What to Do About Religion.Alistair J. Sinclair - 2009 - Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism 17 (2):35-42.
Need Humanism Be Reasonable?Joseph Chuman - 2014 - Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism 21 (1):115-122.
A Vision of Humanist Education for Our Complex World.Carol Winterbute - 2010 - Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism 18 (1):71-78.
An Uncompromising Humanism in Iran and Beyond.Maryam Namazie - 2012 - Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism 20 (1):47-56.
Religion, Marxism and Ethical Humanism.Melvin Leiman - 2011 - Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism 19 (1):57-72.
Religion and Science as Systems of Causal Thought.Frederic March - 2010 - Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism 18 (1):33-56.

Analytics

Added to PP
2015-02-02

Downloads
17 (#1,158,190)

6 months
10 (#422,339)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references