Religious Freedom in a Secular Age - Print

Religious Freedom in a Secular Age: A Christian Case for Liberty, Equality, and Secular Government.

By Michael F. Bird

Soft cover, 224pp
ISBN 9780310538882
Zondervan (2022)

[Allow 4 weeks]

Discover how to responsibly defend religious freedom for all without compromising your personal beliefs.

Michael F. Bird describes today's complicated debates about religious freedom, suggesting a way forward that neither privileges nor punishes religion. Tackling many complicated topics, this practical book encourages Christians to stand up for their faith in a way that is humble and gentle, yet also courageous.

Religious freedom is a bitterly contested issue that spills over into political, public, and online spheres. It's an issue that's becoming ever more heated, and neither of the global political polarities is interested in protecting it. While the political left is openly hostile toward traditional religion, the political right seeks to weaponize it.

Bird has four main goals:

1. To explain the true nature of secularism and help us to see it as one of the best ways of promoting liberty and mutual respect in a multifaith world.
2. To dismantle the arguments for limiting religious freedom.
3. To outline a biblical strategy for maintaining a Christian witness in a post-Christian society.
4. To encourage Christians to participate in a new age of apologetics by being prepared to defend not only their own believes but also the freedom of all faiths.

The fact is that religion has a lot to contribute to the common good. Religious Freedom in a Secular Age will challenge readers of all backgrounds and beliefs not only to make room for peaceable difference, but also to find common ground on the values of justice, mercy, and equality.