Freedom of Conscience: A Baptist/Humanist Dialogue - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 157392766X ISBN 13: 9781573927666

Publisher: Prometheus, 1999

Synopsis

For many years, both Baptists and humanists have been embroiled in heated controversy in the public square. Fundamentalist Baptists have leveled strong charges against humanists, especially secular humanists, accusing them of undermining the moral and social fabric of America. And secular humanists have, in turn, accused some Baptists of betraying democracy and working to establish a theocracy. Can there be common ground between Baptists and humanists?

At a historic dialogue convened at the University of Richmond, Virginia, Baptist and secular humanist scholars in theology, history, philosophy, and the social sciences, came together to define shared concerns and common values. The dialogue focused on major areas of concern: academic freedom; social, political, and religious tolerance; biblical scholarship; separation of church and state; the social agenda of the Christian Coalition and the Southern Baptist Convention; the danger of militant fundamentalism; freedom of conscience and the historic and current role of American Baptists; as well as the plight of pluralistic democracy.

The result of that historic meeting is Freedom of Conscience: A Baptist/Humanist Dialogue, which includes essays by Robert S. Alley, Joe Barnhart, Vern L. Bullough, Bernard C. Farr, George H. Shriver, Paul D. Simmons, George D. Smith, and Dan O. Via. The book concludes with "In Defense of Freedom of Conscience," a cooperative Baptist/Secular Humanist Declaration, authorized by twenty-two distinguished
humanist and Baptist leaders.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

Since the colonial period, Baptists have traditionally championed religious liberty for believers and non believers alike, a concept that underlines the First Amendments. But in recent times, the Southern Baptist Convention-the largest Protestant group in the United States-has shifted dramatically from its heritage and entered the orbit of the Christian Coalation, a group of ultraconservative churches whise politics threaten the social contract that has made America possible. It now embraces a theocratic agenda seeking to impose a narrowly defined sectarianism and to weild its political power to secure special favors, such as school vouchers. Academic excellence has fallen prey to power-hungry dogmatism as seminary facilities are held captive by a determined group of fundamentalist trustees. The liberties Baptist once championed are now the special concern of a minority who seek protection from the Religious Right.

At a historic dialogue at the University of Richmond, Virginia, Baptist and secular humanist scholars in theology, history, philosphy, and the social sciences came together to define shared concerns and common values. The discussion focused on such major areas of concern as academic freedom; social, political, and religious tolerance; biblical scholarship; seperation of church and state; the social agenda of the Christian Coalation and the Southern Baptist Convention; and the dangers on militant fundamentalism.

The result of that historic meeting is Freedom of Conscience, which features essays by leading liberal Baptist thinkers and some of America's best-known advocates pf secular humanism, including: Robert S. Alley, Joe Barnhart, Vern L. Bullough, Bernard Farr, E. Glenn Hinson, Paul Kurtz, Molly Marshall, David McKenzie, Robert M. Prince, George H. Shriver, Arthur J. Slavin, George D. Smith, and Dan O. Via.

Freedom of Conscience takes a serious look at the social/religious covenant that has sustained the democratic experiment in America, bringing into sharp focus issues critical to religion and politics and concluding with "In Defense of Freedom of Conscience," a cooperative Baptist/secualr humanist declaration, authorized by twenty-two distinguished humanist and Baptist leaders.

About the Author

The Director of the Center for Ethics, Paul D. Simmons (Louisville, KY) is an ethics and human rights adjunct professor at the University of Louisville and the Louisville Presbyterian Seminary.

About this edition

• Publisher: Prometheus
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 157392766X
• ISBN 13: 9781573927666
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 282
• Editor: Simmons Paul D.