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Roger Scruton on Secularism

I found via Bob from Brockley this copy of a lecture given in Calgary by Roger Scruton, not so much on secularism as on why religious people should uphold the secular. Bob's site, by the way, is as good as ever.

Scruton's piece is typically clear, interesting and challenging, particularly to Muslims, but to any believer. It's in the City Journal, which I haven't read for some time but which can usually be counted on for at least one good article, so if you do want--pace the subtitle of this blog--to waste some time, have a read. There is a dialogue going on between secularists and those who are faithful but also theological, and fideists( a very different set) which is bubbling away beneath the surface of things.

The Pope, for instance, has now called twice for healthy secularism, once on the white house lawn and once in France. Indeed, the Holy Father's words on how to redefine laicite and work together on climate change, education, human rights, and social justice, if I were to be honest, put him to the left of me. I think that its a fair bet that position doesn't keep the successor of Saint Peter up at night.

Thanks to the NHS and medical science, by the way--and, fingers crossed--my mum is well. Despite the taxman, my former gym, the state of the world, my expanding girth and whatever other burden I can dream up that is all my own fault, I am happy today. Many thanks to all those who sent messages. Being in Blogland clearly doesn't just mean accentuating the negative, and I'm grateful.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hey Martin, Most of the world is left of you. So pleased your Mum is well.Have a good weekend.
Mary.
9:11 am
Martin Meenagh said…
Thanks Mary. In future, I would like my readers to post comments whilst standing with an imaginary shillelagh.
9:17 am
Martin Meenagh said…
And singing an inspiring song
9:33 am
berenike said…
Glad to hear about your mum.

Did you like the Fimister then?
7:23 pm
Martin Meenagh said…
Absolutely loved it. It made me think a great deal, and has turned me back to my own doctorate after ten years. Recommending that to me was something that genuinely improved my intellectual life, so thank you.
7:50 pm
Martin Meenagh said…
I should explain, because you're in the same boat--there is a great temptation after the graduate slough of despond, when actually qualified, to leave the subject of a doctorate in a dark cupboard in one's mind forever. Alan Fimister's book helped me not to do that, and I'll be putting a piece up to thank him in due course, for what it is worth!
11:57 pm
Martin said…
Martin,

My best wishes to your mother.
3:41 pm
Martin Meenagh said…
Many thanks. The situation this week is much, much brighter this week than last.
4:47 pm
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