Theism and Public Policy Humanist Perspectives and Responses [Hardcover]

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.Introduction. Setting the Context and Agenda PART I: DESCRIPTION 1. Theism, Sexuality, and Social Policy: The Case of the American States; Joseph O. Baker and Buster G. Smith 2. The Rise of the Nones: Why More Americans are Becoming Secular, and What that Means for America; Phil Zuckerman 3. Understanding a 'Religious' Western Democracy: Israel and its Complexities; Adam Chalom 4. Rethinking Islam in Public Policy: A Secularist Approach; Maryam Namazie 5. Straight to Hell: Christian Fascism and Americana; Sikivu Hutchinson PART II: PRESCRIPTION 6. The Danger for Humanism: Winning the Battles and Losing the War Against Theism in Public Policy; Barbara Forrest 7. How Should a Democracy Deal with Fundamentalism? A Humanist View; Peter Derkx 8. Putting Humanism in Public Policy; Amanda Knief

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, USAKelly Damerow, Secular Coalition for America, USASikivu Hutchinson, Institute of Humanist StudilóÆ