Theism and Public Policy

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

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2. Introduction: Setting the Context and Agenda

   1. Introduction: Setting the Context and Agenda

      • Anthony B. Pinn

      Pages 1-12

3. Description

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 13-13

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   2. Theism, Sexuality, and Social Policy: The Case of the American States

      • Joseph O. Baker, Buster G. Smith

      Pages 15-35

   3. The Rise of the Nones: Why More Americans are Becoming Secular, and What that Means for America

      • Phil Zuckerman

      Pages 37-52

   4. Understanding a “Religious” Western Democracy: Israel and Its Complexities

      • Adam Chalom

      Pages 53-70

   5. Rethinking Islam in Public Policy: A Secularist Approach

      • Maryam Namazie

      Pages 71-89

   6. Straight to Hell: Christian Fascism and Americana

      • Sikivu Hutchinson

      Pages 91-114

4. Prescription

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 115-115

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   2. The Danger for Humanism: Winning the Battles and Losing the War against Theism in Public Policy

      • Barbara Forrest

      Pages 117-137

   3. How Should a Democracy Deal with Fundamentalism? A Humanist View

      • Peter Derkx

      Pages 139-150

   4. Putting Humanism in Public Policy

      • Amanda Knief

      Pages 151-160

5. Back Matter

   Pages 161-180

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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.

• democracy
• Islam
• policy
• religion
• religion and society

"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

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

Policies and ethics