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Andrew Copson

Secularism: Politics, Religion, and Freedom 1st Edition

by Andrew Copson (Author)

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Until the modern period the integration of church (or other religion) and state (or political life) had been taken for granted. The political order was always tied to an official religion in Christian Europe, pre-Christian Europe, and in the Arabic world. But from the eighteenth century
onwards, some European states began to set up their political order on a different basis. Not religion, but the rule of law through non-religious values embedded in constitutions became the foundation of some states -- a movement we now call secularism. In others, a de facto secularism emerged as
political values and civil and criminal law altered their professed foundation from a shared religion to a non-religious basis.

Today secularism is an increasingly hottopic in public, political, and religious debate across the globe. It is embodied in the conflict between secular republics -- from the US to India -- and the challenges they face from resurgent religious identity politics; in the challenges faced by religious
states like those of the Arab world from insurgent secularists; and in states like China where calls for freedom of belief are challenging a state imposed non-religious worldview. In this short introduction Andrew Copson tells the story of secularism, taking in momentous episodes in world history,
such as the great transition of Europe from religious orthodoxy to pluralism, the global struggle for human rights and democracy, and the origins of modernity. He also considers the role of secularism when engaging with some of the most contentious political and legal issues of our time:
"blasphemy," "apostasy," religious persecution, religious discrimination, religious schools, and freedom of belief and thought in a divided world.

ISBN-10

0198809131
ISBN-13

978-0198809135
Edition

1st
Publisher

Oxford University Press
Publication date

December 1, 2017
Language

English
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.5 x 7.75 inches
Print length

153 pages
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Andrew Copson is the Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association, where he was previously Director of Education and Public Affairs; First Vice President of the International Humanist and Ethical Union; and a former Director of the European Humanist Federation. In these capacities he is one
of the most experienced and prolific advocates of secularism, its study, and its implementation. For over a decade he has carried out a range of national and international practical secularist policy work and spoken internationally on secularism. He has been an associate of the Centre for Law and
Religion and the University of Cardiff since 2008 and represented the secularist point of view on public or other bodies such as the Foreign Office's Advisory Panel on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Woolf Institute's Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life. He co-edited The
Wiley-Blackwell Handbook on Humanism (2015), with A. C. Grayling.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; 1st edition (December 1, 2017)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 153 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0198809131
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0198809135
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 7.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,559,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,004 in Religious Studies (Books)
- #28,802 in Theology (Books)

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4.7 47 ratings

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Andrew Copson

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Andrew Copson (b.1980) was born in the town of Nuneaton in Warwickshire, England. After studying Classics and Ancient and Modern History at Balliol College, Oxford, he worked for a year in Citizenship Education, but then became a full time humanist activist and writer. At the age of 28 he was appointed Chief Executive of Humanists UK (then the British Humanist Association), a position he has held ever since. Since 2015 he has also been the elected President of Humanists International (formerly the International Humanist and Ethical Union). He has led the development of the 120 year old British Humanist Association in new directions, including a broader emphasis on community services work alongside its traditional advocacy, campaigning, and education activities. His writing reflects this, being on both the values and philosophy of Humanism, and political secularism.

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Micah Stewart

Short and to the point

Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2021

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Short and sweet synopsis of secularism and the many iterations. It jumps around at the end, but the historical perspective is definitely a good read.

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Edd Doerr

An important read for our era

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2017

"Secularism" is generally referred to as a political or governmental system in which religion and government are separated, neither sphere dominates the other, and religious liberty for all is maximized. In this concise, comprehensive and quite readable book British expert Andrew Copson traces the historical development of secularism and shows its almost infinite and evolving variety around the world. He cites with approval in its entirety Jefferson's noted Act for Establishing Religious Freedom, passed in Virginia. He shows how the US has led the way in promoting secularism, followed by a different history of it in France and other countries. Copson concludes that no country has achieved the desired goal of complete secularism, and that it faces setbacks even in the US. He shows that secularization is opposed by various forms of religious fundamentalism. One aspect of secularism not adequately covered concerns women's religious liberty and rights of conscience regarding contraception and abortion.
One interesting development that occurred too late for inclusion in the book is the Declaration "on a secular society" approved at a conference in late 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya, by a group of thought leaders from eleven countries in Africa. The conference was sponsored by the Washington-based organization Catholics for Choice and is available from them in a small book titled What Secularism Means to Africa.
Copson's book easily rates five stars.
Edd Doerr (president, Americans for Religious liberty; columnist for Free Inquiry magazine)

5 people found this helpful

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Ruth de Haas

A clear, concise, fair-minded and well-written introduction to a vast and complex subject.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 29, 2017

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Copson deftly describes the history of secularism - including diverse traditions such as India as well as the more familiar (to Western readers) narrative of Rousseau, Locke, the French revolution and the founding fathers. He then gives a cogent summary of the tangled philosophical and political issues and arguments around secularism today, neatly establishing exactly why it remains the best hope for peaceful co-existence.
He finishes with a warning, titled 'Secularism under threat as never before'.
An informative and - despite the sometimes dry subject matter - entertaining read, recommended for anyone with an interest in how politics and religion interact (which, given what a crucial issue this is, really ought to be everyone).

12 people found this helpful

Vexen Crabtree

Highly informative

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2017

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Andrew Copson introduces this topic wonderfully and comprehensively. Abstract concepts are explained clearly, and any complications are given well-balanced histories to explain them. The tone is perfectly neutral and fair, evidenced in the sections on arguments for-and-against different modes of secularism.

Political theory is made palatable through the use of real-life national case examples so that even dry topics are given a lease of life through the tie-ins to current political situations.

The topics of Human rights, regional trends, secularisation, and history are covered where appropriate, so that there is little sense when reading this book that you ought to have greater background knowledge. Everything is provided, and, if you want to go further, the text has ample references to steer the reader towards further resources.

One person found this helpful

T. J. Stephenson

A timely discourse which is readable and engaging.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 3, 2017

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Full of historical detail, Copson's book is a timely reminder in these days of growing religious identity politics throughout the world that the liberal enlightenment political settlement which seeks to balance individual freedom of conscience with freedom from an overbearing religious culture is the only game in town for a future worth believing in. Eminently readable, Copson turns what in lesser hands might have been a dry and academic subject into a supremely relevant and engaging discussion which is both nuanced and comprehensive. A tour de force.

5 people found this helpful

Louhellbaby

A pleasure to read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 15, 2017

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A pleasure to read, conveying a wealth of information in a very accessible manner and with great eloquence. The type of fantastic writing that can make a non fiction book as much of a rip roaring page turner as any thriller or drama.
This book is a 'must read', and indeed it's a 'must read all at once', if you find you have the time free in one go!
Copson's Secularism would be perfect to add to a collection on the subject, and would equally make a great jumping on point for someone just beginning to dip their toe into the subjects of religion, politics or human nature itself. If you have heard the words 'Humanist' or 'Secularism' and want to know what that means this is definitely the book for you.

4 people found this helpful

Jim Walsh

intelligent and insightful account of Secularism’s history

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 3, 2017

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A balanced, intelligent and insightful account of Secularism’s history, present and prospects for the future. Copson also manages to provide a calm and steady hand when focusing on global politics through the lens of Secularism and religion. The examples give perfect encapsulation to the points under consideration at the same time as providing a coherent narrative to some of the larger and more overwhelming problems of the world. An excellent resource for anyone interested in Secularism and the world they live in!

6 people found this helpful

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