Is secularism a doomed and failed experiment of the past? Is the future of society religious — religious institutions, religious beliefs, and religious values? There was a time when it was common to think that religion would simply disappear and that obviously hasn't happened, but does this mean therefore that secularism will disappear instead?

That was the argument made by David Brooks a couple of years ago in the Atlantic Online. According to Brooks:

“religious groups should be sending out researchers to try to understand why there are pockets of people in the world who do not feel the constant presence of God in their lives, who do not fill their days with rituals and prayers and garments that bring them into contact with the divine, and who do not believe that God’s will should shape their public lives.”

The answer to that is obvious: look at the relations between Jews and Muslims, between Muslims and Hindus, between Christians and Muslims, between Christians of various denominations. Look at the Crusades, the wars of religion during the Reformation, and more. If that doesn’t tell you the will of some ineffable God should shape our public lives and public institutions, I’m not sure anything will. As for filling my days with rituals and garments and prayers that bring me into contact with the divine... well, I’d prefer to maintain contact with world around me, thanks.

 

Read More:

• Separation of Church and State 101
• Church and State News
• Secularism 101