Secularism has been variously defined as 'promoting neutrality in the public square', 'separating governance from religion', 'managing a society of diverse beliefs', 'a regime of religious regulation' and 'eliminating religion from politics and society'.
Self-proclaimed proponents and opponents of secularity are often unclear about the distinction between these different meanings, their relation to competing claims about secularization (the shift from primarily associational faith-based societies to technical post- or a-religious ones), and the possibility of new horizons and approaches.
It is our conviction that conscious attempts are needed to engage thinking people of religious and non-religious persuasions to consider models of secular life which may be received as an invitation rather than a threat, and which move from 'thin' to 'thick' descriptions of "the good" as part of a rigorous but respectful conversation between different traditions of reasoning.
At present there is a grave danger that these issues are being mired in "the politics of competitive grievance" on all sides. There is a great need to take the debate about secular life and patterns of belief in a positive, practical and more nuanced direction. This should include a solid theological input, and an examination of the role of 'communities of conviction' within the wider public sphere.
Ekklesia is currently engaged cooperatively with others in:
(1) the development of a broad-based roundtable to examine different models of secularity for a diverse society (leading to a publication later in 2007 or more likely early 2008)
(2) a discussion paper on critical and appreciative theological appraisals of the secular within the Christian tradition (Simon Barrow - for later in 2007)
(3) support for academic research on reappraising secularist ideas and institutional arrangements in Western Europe (a Cambridge-based proposal, which has just received funding)
(4) various speaking and writing engagements concerned with the changing location and role of faith in relation to governance and public services. This will also lead to further discussion papers.
(5) The redrafting and re-issue of Redeeming Religion in the Public Square [1] (Simon Barrow, Ekklesia, July 2006), which elaborates on issues raised by Jonathan Bartley's Faith and Politics After Christendom [2] (Paternoster, 2006).
(6) Exchanges with the British Humanist Association, some in the Inter Faith Network, and the O Project about these common concerns.
Progress updates will be issued periodically. Latest update: 19 October 2007.
For further information, contact Ekklesia director Simon Barrow.
See also from Ekklesia: The Religion and Secularism Network [3] (November 2007), Facing up to fundamentalism [4] (research paper, SB), Open secularism meets open religion [5] (speech by Simon Barrow at the Royal Society of Arts), A new discourse on race and faith politics [6] (statement of NGN), Redeeming Religion in the Public Square [7] (research paper, SB), Faith and Politics After Christendom [8] (book, Jonathan Bartley), Rethinking hate speech, blasphemy and free expression [9] (policy paper, SB), Toward the abolition of the nation state? [10] (Richard Franklin, with Sarum College), God and the politicians [11] (response paper, SB). Ekklesia and the 'secularism versus religion' argument [12].