We all know the old proverb, "There are two things you don't discuss at dinnerpolitics and religion." The idea being that both religion and politics are divisive subjects that lead to disagreements even among the closest of friends and family. Hunter Baker, in his work The End of Secularism attempts to take on both issues, and their relationship with one another. Baker attempts to argue against the attitude that religion and politics need to be separated, and in favor of a Christian worldview that believes that faith belongs as a powerful, outspoken force in the public square.
The End of Secularism is a thorough book. The Introduction is essential reading for understanding the text, as well as understanding the author. In it Baker gives a first-hand narrative of how he came to his thesis in his personal journey. The first third of the book covers the history of bringing one's personal faith into the public square. He discusses the ancient church and the Reformation, as well as the French Revolution. Baker spends the most time, however, discussing the way that faith and politics have related to one another in the public square in the United States of America.
Baker believes that as America has developed, we have acquired an ethos that relegates religion to private and personal space, and politics and science to the public sphere. Thus, religion is ones "personal business" and part of ones "personal life," but as a culture we find it difficult when people bring their faith in the public sphere, especially in matters of medicine, the academy, and public policy. This clear delineation Baker refers to as secularismbecause our public lives need to be lived without deference and reference to our religious convictions and commitments. He says of secularists as he grew up, "Expressions of public faith offended them they way that pornography offended certain other people" (p. 11).
Baker is generous with the secularists. He believes that much of the way our culture deals with religion and politics has to do with somewhat good intentions. For the most part, after years of arguing about religion in public, secularist society has chosen to push faith to persons personal lives out of a desire for peace. Also, secularism, in light of such arguments, pushed religion to the private sphere of living as a way of honoring its importance without making it a matter of public policy. This has not been entirely bad for religion either. Christian evangelicalism gained strength in this environment that focused on faith as a "personal decision for Christ."
The End of Secularism as a title is, of course, a double meaning. Baker believes that the end goal of secularism is to marginalize matters of faith, and the author believes in our current environment religious faith cannot be left out of the public discourse. Thus secularism is being exposed by the author as a poor idea, and an idea that is coming to an end. Do you agree? Read and find out! Clint Walker, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com
