Book Review: The End of Secularism by Hunter Baker

What should the relationship be between the church and the state? Should religion be privatized and taken out of the public square? Does secularism actually provide a "new way forward for humankind," and more importantly, does it "live up to its billing?" Hunter Baker sets out to answer all of these questions and many more with precision and clarity in his new book, The End of Secularism.

Defining secularism as the exclusion of religious considerations from civil affairs, Mr. Baker argues that secularism does not live up to all the hype its advocates would have you believe. He offers a different resolution than secularism. However, his resolution may surprise some fundamental Christians who believe America should act as a theocracy (a form of government where God governs a human state). The nation of Israel in the Old Testament was a theocracy that was meant to point forward to coming of Christ when he would be the supreme ruler of the whole earth. But America is not a theocracy. In fact, Hunter Baker argues that the public square should be governed by pluralism, not secularism.

"Pluralism is better than secularism because it is not artificial. In a pluralistic environment, we simply enter the public square and say who we are and what we believe. We make arguments that advert to religion or other sources of values, and they are more or less convincing on a case-by-case basis. The result is that our arguments are naturally tempered by reality... Secularists ask that individuals with religious reasons pretend to think and act on some other basis."

Though Christianity is not a pluralistic religion, Baker's assessment of secularism and his solution of pluralism within the public square is refreshing and biblical. It is how Paul and Peter argued in the Jewish temple of their day, not with the fear of being "politically correct," but with honest and real convictions of heart.

Though the conclusion of this book is much needed in today's secular culture, the route that he takes to get there is the most intriguing part of this book. Baker reveals the historical development and birth of secularism. He takes his readers on a journey from 33 AD to the present and introduces them to historical giants such as Constantine, Theodosius I & II, Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, Martin Luther, Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jonathan Edwards, showing how the teachings of them all aided in the birth of secularism. It's pretty amazing to see!

This book is very readable for the nature of it content. Though there were times I found some of Baker's conclusions flying over my head, I will be recommending The End of Secularism to all who want to learn about the place of religion in the public square.

Buy it here.