There seems to be an underlying belief in American society that secularism is a neutral value system. Public displays of religiosity are taboo but promotion of all things irreligious are applauded. Being irreligious is just as much a value system as being religious. A truly neutral society wouldn't take sides between religion or the irreligious.
A good example of this is in our school system. Prayer is forbidden but secular humanism is not a problem to teach students. It's a belief system just like Christianity, Judaism, Islam and any another religion but because our society views the irreligious as neutral, it's not an issue.
Another place where this is seen is in the abortion debate. Many pro-choicers seem to think they have the reasoned argument simply because they make specious secular arguments and pro-lifers sometimes use religious arguments (although they fail to recognize not every pro-lifer is religious). They think because they're secular it means they're "neutral", never mind their secularism has a belief system that isn't neutral.
Secularism isn't neutral. It's a value system. It's a system of ethics. Secularism has a set of beliefs. Its adherents can be zealous. Let's stop treating secularism as neutral.
3 comments:
Agree with this whole-heartedly. Secularism has its own “faith tenants” such as a belief in “Science” (whatever that means), Nature/Climate Change, post modernism, etc
Your blog sucks and go to hell for talking smack then running when ppl talk back
Thanks for writinng
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