What's wrong with a secular society?

Question

I'm not talking about religion being outlawed at all.

Answer 1

Nothing at all. I look forward to the day...

Answer 2

Nothing is wrong with it. The problem is the theistically infected types have been lied to by their handlers. Their handlers are telling them secularism is the enemy, so to speak. In all reality, a secular society is the best all around. It is a society that is neutral. A society where all religions can flourish.

Answer 3

To Doug, who questioned a secular society's moral foundations: Take a jurisprudence class sometime, as it might provide you with a better answer to your question than I can give. Nonetheless, I'll try to explain:

Taking HLA Hart and legal positivism (America, common-law countries) as our basis:

People are fundamentally self-interested. They want to survive. At some point, they realize that just like they want to survive, others want to survive too. Their self-interest will then extend to others, hence the moral foundation on benevolence alone.

Taking legal science (Europe, civil-law countries) as our basis:

Survival is something that is beneficial for humankind and is a good goal to pursue. At some point, humans realize this good goal and its attached benefits, and they create a society based on it that includes in it a moral upbringing based on what they deem a good goal.

There are two arguments for morals in a society without any religion coming into it at all. Furthermore, even IF you claim that the morals in America are based on the Bible, then they're also based on Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, as well as other religions - don't steal, don't kill, be good to your parents, etc., are commandments (small 'c') that exist in every religion and philosophy.

Answer 4

Nothing is wrong with it. The only problem with it is that these types of socities tend to be better off economically, socially, medically and morally than theocracies. Just look at Sweden and Denmark... And that really upsets the fundies...so they fight to keep God in society.

Answer 5

I am Christian and I think I would prefer to live in a secular society for the following reasons!

1) I do not want any government imposing on me and my family WHO or WHAT to worship and HOW to worship either.

2) I want EVERYONE to enjoy religious freedom (or freedom not to be religious if they so choose) without government interferance

3) I want the laws to reflect what is ethical, humane and universally beneficial and just based on FACTUAL evidence and not someone's doctrine.

4) I think a secular society satisfies EVERYONE..... except extremists and fundamentalists and we don't want to satisfy them do we?

Answer 6

It would be WONDERFUL! People could worship who they want (or dont' want) and it would stay out of government run institutions. Everyone would be happy, at least the ones that don't feel the need to push their religion on others. I guess if that were taken away there are some people that would be unhappy about it.

Answer 7

I pray for a secular society!

Answer 8

Where is the moral foundation?

First--- I'd hate to live in a theocracy, more so than a secular society. We've seen the negative effects of religion in history, but there are positive ones. Heck... look at Jesus.

Seriously, I'm not saying "atheists have no morals", but where are the morals going to come from? The Bible doesn't change; the morals in it have been used for years in America and in a lot of the world. If everyone lived like Jesus, this world would indeed be a better place.

The line has to be drawn somewhere... Otherwise we leave our lives in the hands of people that we often don't even know.

The Renaissance was a great example of a secular society--things were good. People finally broke from the shackles of the Catholic Church and thought for themselves. This is what Jesus wants. He wants us to be free-- yet, to live for him. We are free in Christ.

This is why there is a huge difference between religion and relationship, as I have learned.

Thinking in terms of today, if America were to become secular now, disunity would destroy it as a nation.

Answer 9

I see nothing wrong with it, or anything missing from it. We could only hope that the day will come when nutty religious groups (of all faiths) stay out of government.

Answer 10

Nothing whatsoever, as long as it allows for freedom of religion and conscience, which for many people is an essential element in their pursuit of happiness.

Answer 11

10 years ago, I would have said "nothing at all," but lately it seems to me that secular society has gotten so into intense political correctness, that it's not allowing for much belief, opinion, or voice on much anything any more - kind of strange really.