Secularism Is Good for America—Especially Christians

[cbayer]

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116509/secularism-america-good-everyone-including-christians

FEBRUARY 10, 2014

BY ISAAC CHOTINER

The rise of a secular culture, combined with an increasing number of self-identified atheists and agnostics in western societies, has led to a certain amount of handwringing among religious believers. Secularists, the argument goes, are starting to become mean and nasty: as the culture war's victors, they are acting vindictive and cruel. It's only a matter of time before religious believers are tarred, feathered, and sent to re-education camps.

You might think I am exaggerating, but only slightly. The New Statesman recently ran a cover story about atheist intolerance; the piece claimed that religious believers were under sustained attack. And now Damon Linker, in The Week, has written an article about the secular arrogance that supposedly characterizes our current era. Of this arrogance, he writes, "When liberals act that way, they run the risk of turning themselves into latter-day Jacobins, the anti-religious zealots who dominated the French Revolution during its most radical phase." Given the stakes, it's worth stepping back a bit and examining this moment, at least before Linker and Billy Graham are decapitated by Richard Dawkins and Jerry Coyne.

On one point, of course, Linker is correct. Western societies are largely secular. Even in countries like the United States, which contain high levels of religiosity, popular culture, education, and politics all operate within an essentially secular paradigm. (When a movie like The Passion of the Christ makes gargantuan amounts of money, it really does feel like an exception from the norm, because indeed it is.) And yet religion continues to prosper: presidential candidates discuss their faith, people still go to church, most Americans draw a connection between religion and morality, and religious leaders continue to hold real sway. Christmas has been commercialized, but it is hardly under siege.

Thus, one might argue, increasing secularization is not in fact a huge threat to religious liberty. Religion can survive a secular culture. But Linker and others are intent on making precisely the opposite argument: that the next wave of secularization will be marked by radical anger and score-settling. Some of this is surely politically motivated: just look at a recent USA Today column from Fox News's Kirsten Powers, which presents the Obama administration as bullying and abrasive and intent on going after nuns who oppose the contraception mandate. (Linda Greenhouse shreds Powers's silly piece here.) But some of this discontent, including Linker's undoubtedly sincere piece, is surely motivated by feelings of genuine concern.

more at link

[WovenGems]

1. A good filter

If a Christian feels we aren't really a secular society then they just outed themselves as being a fundie.

[cbayer]

2. Agree. If someone feels that we are really a "Christian Nation" and supports

things that smack of a theocracy, then they are part of a subgroup with which most mainstream believers do not relate.

[trotsky]

3. That's actually a quite common sentiment.

You are marginalizing a significant group - last survey I saw said that some 1/3 of the country wants to make Christianity the official relgiion: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/06/christianity-state-religion_n_3022255.html

I think it's safe to assume that group already believes the US is a Christian nation, they just want it officially so. So if you add on the people who understand what a crazy notion it is to make an "official" religion in our country, but still see it as a de facto Christian Nation, you're probably into the 50% neighborhood at least. I mean, we've had more than a few DUers who thought that. Do you have any numbers that would be helpful here, cbayer? Before we go just ignorantly writing this belief off as something only a tiny fringe supports?

[WovenGems]

4. A difference

Believing this a nation of Christians differs from believing this a Christian Nation. In one we live with out anyone trying to make us live like they think we should.

[trotsky]

5. As I noted in my post, 1/3 of Americans think we should make it official.

How many more do you suppose wouldn't go that far, but still consider it to already be one? I have a feeling it's probably significant, maybe even enough to push it into the 50% range. What do you think?

[WovenGems]

6. Well then

Thank God, or our founders, for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

[trotsky]

7. Technically, a god had nothing to do with those.

But the point here is that it's not some insignificant fringe minority that holds a position about this being a "Christian nation." At least, I don't think it is.