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Does theism dominant the language and practices of public life in the United States? This volume explores this question from a humanist perspective, and in so doing it provides insight into the relationship of religion to public policy, and offers ways to advance a more democratic and secular public arena.
List of contents
Introduction. Setting the Context and Agenda PART I: DESCRIPTION 1. Theism, Sexuality, and Social Policy: The Case of the American States; Joseph O. Baker and Buster G. Smith 2. The Rise of the Nones: Why More Americans are Becoming Secular, and What that Means for America; Phil Zuckerman 3. Understanding a 'Religious' Western Democracy: Israel and its Complexities; Adam Chalom 4. Rethinking Islam in Public Policy: A Secularist Approach; Maryam Namazie 5. Straight to Hell: Christian Fascism and Americana; Sikivu Hutchinson PART II: PRESCRIPTION 6. The Danger for Humanism: Winning the Battles and Losing the War Against Theism in Public Policy; Barbara Forrest 7. How Should a Democracy Deal with Fundamentalism? A Humanist View; Peter Derkx 8. Putting Humanism in Public Policy; Amanda Knief
About the author
Adam Chalom, International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, USA
Kelly Damerow, Secular Coalition for America, USA
Sikivu Hutchinson, Institute of Humanist Studies, USA
Barbara Forrest, Southeastern Louisiana State University, USA
Joseph Baker, East Tennessee State University, USA
Phil Zuckermann, Pitzer College, USA
Maryam Namazie, Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, UK
Amanda Knief, Secular Coalition for America, USA
Summary
Does theism dominant the language and practices of public life in the United States? This volume explores this question from a humanist perspective, and in so doing it provides insight into the relationship of religion to public policy, and offers ways to advance a more democratic and secular public arena.
Additional text
"There is a lively debate on religion's role in the public square currently underway in the marketplace of ideas. Theism and Public Policy is a thoughtful and provocative collection of essays that seeks to confront potentially contentious issues that arise from the widening chasm between religious believers and non-believers in the context of liberal Western democracies. Truth be told, putting forth prescriptions for such a multicultural, multidimensional vision of secularism without much of the cynicism, vitriol, and invective that has bogged down previous expressions of humanism makes this volume a very welcome addition to this emerging discourse." - Juan M. Floyd-Thomas, Vanderbilt University, USA
