Acton Line

Religious Freedom in a Secular Age


Listen Later

Religious freedom is a bitterly contested issue that spills over into political, public, and online spheres. It's an issue that's becoming ever more heated, and neither of the global political polarities is interested in protecting it. While the political left is openly hostile toward traditional religion, the political right seeks to weaponize it.


How can we ensure that "religious freedom" is truly about freedom of one's religion rather than serving an ethno-nationalist agenda?


In Religious Freedom in a Secular Age, New Testament scholar and author of “Evangelical Theology” Michael Bird has four main goals:


  • To explain the true nature of secularism and help us to see it as one of the best ways of promoting liberty and mutual respect in a multifaith world.
  • To dismantle the arguments for limiting religious freedom.
  • To outline a biblical strategy for maintaining a Christian witness in a post-Christian society.
  • To encourage Christians to participate in a new age of apologetics by being prepared to defend not only their own believes but also the freedom of all faiths.

  • While Bird does address the recent political administrations in the US, his focus is global. Bird—who lives in Melbourne, Australia—freely admits to his anxiety of the militant secularism surrounding him, but he also strongly critiques the marriage of national and religious identities that has gained ground in countries like Hungary and Poland.


    The fact is that religion has a lot to contribute to the common good. Religious Freedom in a Secular Age will challenge readers of all backgrounds and beliefs not only to make room for peaceable difference, but also to find common ground on the values of justice, mercy, and equality.


    Subscribe to our podcasts

    Apply Now for Acton University


    Religious Freedom in a Secular Age | Amazon


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Acton LineBy Acton Institute

    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    211 ratings


    More shows like Acton Line

    View all
    The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture by Bishop Robert Barron

    The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

    5,730 Listeners

    Hillsdale Dialogues by Hillsdale College

    Hillsdale Dialogues

    2,102 Listeners

    The Thomistic Institute by The Thomistic Institute

    The Thomistic Institute

    789 Listeners

    Mortification of Spin by Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals

    Mortification of Spin

    837 Listeners

    First Things Podcast by First Things

    First Things Podcast

    717 Listeners

    The Dividend Cafe by The Bahnsen Group

    The Dividend Cafe

    585 Listeners

    Heritage Explains by Heritage Podcast Network

    Heritage Explains

    842 Listeners

    Uncommon Knowledge by Hoover Institution

    Uncommon Knowledge

    2,009 Listeners

    The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour by Hillsdale College

    The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour

    658 Listeners

    The Theology Pugcast by The Theology Pugcast

    The Theology Pugcast

    469 Listeners

    Life and Books and Everything by Clearly Reformed

    Life and Books and Everything

    650 Listeners

    The Aaron Renn Show by Aaron Renn

    The Aaron Renn Show

    470 Listeners

    Capital Record by National Review

    Capital Record

    444 Listeners

    Imprimis by Hillsdale College

    Imprimis

    238 Listeners

    How The World Works by Kevin D. Williamson

    How The World Works

    209 Listeners