6. Challenges: The Challenge of Secularism

Challenges facing religious thought from areas such as science, secularisation, migration and multi-cultural societies and changing gender roles.

6.1 Content

The rise of secularism and secularisation, and the views that:
– God is an illusion and the result of wish fulfilment
– Christianity should play no part in public life

6.2 Knowledge

• the views of Freud and Dawkins that society would be happier without Christianity as it is infantile, repressive and causes conflict
• the views of secular humanists that Christian belief is personal and should play no part in public life, including:
– education and schools
– government and state

6.3 Issues as the basis of exam questions

Learners should have the opportunity to discuss issues related to the challenge of secularism, including:
• whether or not spiritual values are just human values
• whether or not there is evidence that Christianity is a major cause of personal and social problems
• whether secularism and secularisation are opportunities for Christianity to develop new ways of thinking and acting
• whether Christianity is, or should be, a significant contributor to society’s culture and values

6.4 Suggested scholarly views, academic approaches and sources of wisdom and authority

For reference, the ideas of Dawkins and Freud listed above can be found in:
• Freud, S. The Future of an Illusion
• Dawkins, R. The God Delusion, Chapter 9

Learners will be given credit for referring to any appropriate scholarly views, academic
approaches and sources of wisdom and authority, however the following examples may prove useful:

• Ford, D. (2011) The Future of Christian Theology, Wiley-Blackwell, Chapters 3 and 6
• British Humanist Society, https://humanism.org.uk/
• Dawson, C. (1956) ‘The Challenge of Secularism’ in Catholic World, also online http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/education/catholic-contributions/
the-challenge-of-secularism.htm