Religious Freedom in a Secular Age, Michael F. Bird
Religious Freedom in a Secular Age, Michael F. Bird
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Religious Freedom in a Secular Age
A Christian Case for Liberty, Equality, and Secular Government

Author: Michael F. Bird

Narrator: Alan Irving

Unabridged: 6 hr 9 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: 05/03/2022


Synopsis

Discover how to responsibly defend religious freedom for all without compromising your personal beliefs.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, Michael Bird (New Testament scholar and author of Evangelical Theology) 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.

About Michael F. Bird

Michael F. Bird (PhD, University of Queensland) is Deputy Principal and Lecturer in Theology at Ridley College, Australia. He is the author of numerous scholarly and popular books on the New Testament and theology, including Evangelical Theology, Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew about the Bible, and with N. T. Wright,?The New Testament in Its World.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Glenn on August 15, 2022

I very much appreciated this timely book from Aussie Anglican, Michael Bird. I have much to think about, and have already had opportunity to discuss some of the issues raised with family and fellow pastors. I appreciated the good coverage of the situation in both USA and Australia, though a bit more......more

Goodreads review by Declan on December 14, 2023

In a "culture war" defined mostly by mudslinging, Bird's book represents a refreshingly nuanced middle ground. What's best about this book is that I suspect it will offend the conservative Christian as much as the progressive activist. Recommended.......more

Goodreads review by Avery on September 24, 2024

This book was actually really helpful for me in understanding and defending the Christian origins of secularity. This book is not Anabaptist, but does fit well into the Anabaptist emphasis on free choice as the basis of radical commitment.......more

Goodreads review by Bob on April 02, 2025

Summary: Distinguishes types of secularism, opposes dismantling religious freedom, and for a new apologetic. Religious Freedom. It is enshrined as one of the “first freedoms” of the First Amendment of the U.S., Constitution. Yet in recent years, both in courts and the public square, it has been a sou......more

Goodreads review by David on October 29, 2024

Complaining of Persecution 23 October 2024 Ok, while I don’t actually know the author of this book, I do know that he teaches at the bible college in which my church meets so I decided to give it a go. Sadly, much of the book seems to rant and rave against militant secularism (which is probably more......more