“There are two kinds of comprehensive doctrines, religious and secular. Those of religious faith will say I give a veiled argument for secularism, and the latter will say I give a veiled argument for religion. I deny both. Each side presumes the basic ideas of constitutional democracy, so my suggestion is that we can make our political arguments in terms of public reason. Then we stand on common ground. That's how we can understand each other and cooperate.” GivingKindTwoIdeasReasonPoliticalSidesTermReligiousCommonDemocracyArgumentDenyDoctrineLatterSecularSuggestionsReligious FaithSecularismComprehensiveCommon GroundPolitical Arguments Author:John Rawls
“I do not regard myself as a Christian politician. I regard myself as a politician who just happens to think religion matters. I would be appalled, absolutely appalled, to think religion drove anyone's politics in a secular democracy like ours.” ThinkingMatterHappensWould BeChristianDemocracyPoliticianRegardSecular Author:Tony Abbott
“Trusting each other is the beginning of a certain secular faith, a faith that allows us to live in families and communities and nations. Democracy, above all other forms of government, requires this faith.” GovernmentFormCertainNationsCommunityDemocracySecularForms Of GovernmentTrusting Each Other Author:Sue Halpern
“There is no society that protects freedom of religion more than secular democracies, because in societies where one religion rules, different viewpoints will be labelled as heresy and blasphemy. Why? Because the society is built on religion - not freedom for all points of view.” DifferentViewsDemocracyProtectBuiltPoint Of ViewSecularHeresyViewpointsBlasphemyFreedom Of Religion Author:Flemming Rose
“For me George Bush is just as scary, if not more. Because he doesn't look like a scary guy, because he's shaved and he has a tie on. But he's a real fanatic - a fanatic by definition is the one who says, if you are not with me, you are against me, and that's exactly the position he takes. The mullahs in my country, it's obvious. But a guy who says I am the president of the biggest secular democracy in the world and asks people to read the Bible and make crusades and says he's God's best friend - this guy is even more scary because you don't see it at the beginning.” PeopleIfsWorldLooksRealCountryGuyAsksPresidentDemocracyPositionDefinitionsObviousScaryTiesSecularThis GuyFanaticsCrusadesMullahs Author:Marjane Satrapi
“First of all, there's no separation of church and state in the Islamic world. They're one and the same. And so when President Bush or Senator Kerry or Prime Minister Blair says, "Look, adopt our secular democracy, look at how good we've done. We have a wonderful level of standard of living for our people," what many Muslims hear is, "Turn your back on God and follow what men say."” PeopleMenWorldFirstsLooksStatesDoneTurnsPresidentChurchLevelsDemocracyWonderfulStandardsSeparationMinistersIslamicPrimeSecularSenatorsPrime MinisterPresident BushChurch And StateSeparation Of Church And StateStandards Of LivingBlair Author:Michael Scheuer