The hottest Secularism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Faith & Spirituality Topics

The Limits of Reason, Individualism and Secular Morality

Glenn’s Substack • 999 implied HN points • 27 Aug 24
📖 Philosophy Secularism
  1. Reason and individualism are important, but they need a balance with tradition and community. Without this balance, societies may struggle to maintain cohesion.
  2. The rise of moral relativism challenges the foundations of secular morality, making it hard to find common ground in society. People may disagree on values and laws without shared beliefs.
  3. Liberal democratic values are under threat as moral arguments lack a strong foundation. This may lead to laws that rely more on force than on a shared understanding of right and wrong.

Is Religion Good for the World?

Fake Noûs • 601 implied HN points • 20 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Secularism
  1. All organized religions are false in some or all of their core tenets.
  2. Some people try to argue others out of religion because they think false beliefs shouldn’t be held, though many stop doing that over time.
  3. Rejections of religion can rest on different grounds, like denying God’s existence or criticizing the morality of religious figures, and critics emphasize different reasons.

Jen Gerson: Where have all the New Atheists gone?

The Line • 2731 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Secularism
  1. The trend of declining religious affiliation is noticeable, with Christianity on the decline while irreligiosity is on the rise in Western societies.
  2. A shift in perspectives is observed, with some former atheists converting to Christianity due to the moral void left by secularism.
  3. The atheist community, including New Atheists, is facing challenges and division, with some aligning with social justice movements and others critiquing them.

Canada the Theocracy: How a “Secular” Nation Adopted a State Religion

Heterodox STEM • 241 implied HN points • 11 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Secularism
  1. Canada is portrayed as having turned social justice into a de facto state religion, with rituals, moral policing, and enforced orthodoxy that resemble the features of a theocracy.
  2. This ideological dominance is said to undermine meritocracy and institutions, harming education, hiring, and long-term prosperity — with examples like non-merit admissions, DEI hiring rules, weak growth projections, and housing shortages.
  3. The proposed remedy is to restore a genuinely secular state that confines government to core functions (safety, borders, institutions) and preserves space for diverse beliefs, debate, and merit-based decision making.

Faith Based Sciences

David Friedman’s Substack • 377 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Secularism
  1. Intelligent Design is presented as a scientific theory, but many alleged examples of 'bad design' have clearer evolutionary explanations. Its defenders often start from religious motives rather than neutral inquiry.
  2. Some scientific-sounding ideas, like Nuclear Winter, were promoted by people with political goals before the science was settled, so advocates' motives are a good reason to be cautious even if the idea might be true.
  3. When arguments conveniently align with what people already want, it suggests ideology is driving the case rather than an independent theory; for example, opposition to nuclear power despite its low‑carbon benefits shows belief can outweigh evidence.
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Ross Douthat: Everyone Should Believe in God

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2179 implied HN points • 16 Feb 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Secularism
  1. Many people are feeling drawn back to religion after a period of being more secular. It's like there’s a little spark in the younger generations wanting to explore faith again.
  2. High-profile figures are converting to religion, suggesting a trend where even the educated elite are rethinking their beliefs. This shows that curiosity about spirituality is growing, even among the skeptics.
  3. However, there’s a worry about why people are turning to religion. It's important to think about the reasons behind this interest in faith to ensure it’s meaningful and genuine.

This Broken World Is Holy

Reactionary Feminist • 56 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Secularism
  1. Belief in inevitable, secular progress has eroded as repeated crises show that things don’t automatically get better.
  2. The Christian story offers a different hope: it says the world is broken but despair is wrong because ultimate redemption isn’t promised to this life alone.
  3. Christmas reminds us that the broken world is made holy by the incarnation, so we should hold onto hope and care for this world even amid scarcity and decline.

Groundless Morals

Fake Noûs • 348 implied HN points • 31 May 25
📖 Philosophy Secularism
  1. The idea that morality depends on God is questioned. If God's commands are arbitrary, then morality can seem subjective.
  2. Secular views can provide a strong basis for objective morality. Concepts like universals help make sense of moral truths without needing a divine source.
  3. Many arguments used to support theism, like the ontological argument, are seen as flawed. They don't prove God's existence because a definition doesn't guarantee a real thing.

My Political Development

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 1731 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Secularism
  1. The author discusses their political development over the years, highlighting a consistent core belief in free market fundamentalism and a move towards favoring globalism and open societies.
  2. The journey to the author's current political stance is divided into four eras, revealing shifts towards universalism, epistemological humility, pro-democracy, and a dislike for economic and cultural central planning.
  3. The author reflects on their teenage self, discussing how their early exposure to political entertainment and the conflict between religious Christians and secularists shaped their initial political beliefs.

The New Apocalypticism

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1344 implied HN points • 25 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Secularism
  1. Apocalyptic beliefs are not just based on religious views, but also on secular scientific perspectives.
  2. Secular intellectuals interpret extreme events as consequences from past actions and opportunities for redemption.
  3. The future of climate policy may see a struggle between practicality and the 'New Apocalypticism.'

From Hijab to Abaya Bans: Policing Muslim Girls' Bodies in France

Pen>Sword • 99 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Secularism
  1. France has enacted laws banning Muslim girls from wearing abayas, forcing them to choose between religious observance and education.
  2. French Islamophobia disproportionately targets Muslim girls and women, reflecting fears of 'replacement' in the country.
  3. The policing of Muslim women's bodies in France extends to school checkpoints, with a lack of support from western feminists and women's organizations.

Why I Am Not a Christian

Skeptic • 234 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Secularism
  1. Atheism is not a belief system, it is a lack of belief in God.
  2. Enlightenment humanism, not atheism, drives moral progress through reason and science.
  3. The basis for morality and values can be universal and grounded in humanistic principles, regardless of religious beliefs.

The Trad Marxism of George Grant, Part 3

From the New World • 5 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Secularism
  1. George Grant believes that the idea of limits is tied to the idea of God, meaning there are moral boundaries we should not cross. This suggests that some things are simply wrong, regardless of our opinions.
  2. The political legitimacy in society has shifted since divine authority was lost, making people look for new sources of legitimacy. This includes reliance on science and the founders of nations.
  3. It's unclear if Grant's view of God is unique to Christianity or if he could see value in other religions like Islam or Hinduism. He seems to focus more on the concept of a higher limit than on specific religious practices.

Nigeria: A Secular State?

libraryofthought • 0 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics Secularism
  1. Nigeria has a complex history of religious influences, with events like the Fulani Jihād and Church missions carving out geographical and religious frontiers.
  2. The secular status of Nigeria has evolved over time, with the 1979 and 1999 Constitutions playing significant roles in defining the relationship between religion and the state.
  3. Opinions on Nigeria's secular status vary, with some highlighting the multi-religious nature of the country and pointing out the complexities of defining Nigeria as strictly secular.