I am secular. In a society that is very religious this is an invitation for scorn. I was not always secular, however. I was once a devout Christian. Up until my eighteenth birthday I would have described myself as a believer. I had started going to church as a young lad because my parents were too busy working to take me out. So when local church officials came knocking on my door and asked if I wanted to go to Sunday School – where there would be other kids to play with and, best of all, free food – I acquiesced. I was a very committed Christian. At one time I led the church youth group and headed a Bible study unit. Just as much, my social values were conservative: I summarily opposed abortions; I thought homosexuality was wrong. These were the norms I was taught at church. Now I see religious intolerance as one of the great challenges for a pluralistic and compassionate society. I say this because I see how religion is oftentimes used as a veil for hate: How is denying human rights (i.e., marriage) to gays seen as moral? Likewise, is it just to bring a…
