The contemporary world is witness to an intense controversy
about secularism. This controversy has intensified due to the
presence of fundamentalism, which challenges secular society and
the secularization of philosophical ideas and ethical values.
Secularists maintain that the state should not impose a
religious creed upon citizens and should respect freedom of
conscience, the right to believe or disbelieve in the prevailing
orthodoxy. This right is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the
US Constitution and the Rights of Man enunciated in the French
Revolution. Yet many powerful religious institutions do not accept
this principle.
Paul Kurtz argues that secularism needs to be allied to the
emergence of democratic institutions that respect individual
freedom and the pluralistic society. He argues that a defense of
secularism entails a defense of the civic virtues of democracy,
which include the toleration of dissent and alternative lifestyles
and the willingness to negotiate differences. Consequently,
secularism will take different forms in different societies; the
term multi-secularism best describes that. Many people believe that
it is impossible to maintain a moral order without the support of
religion. Kurtz vigorously denies that, and this volume attempts to
explicate the values and principles of secular morality, which he
sees as the cornerstone of the open democratic society.
Kurtz was involved in the campaign for secularism throughout his
career as a philosopher. This book reflects his participation in
this battle and extends his thinking to new areas.
General
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