Historically Thinking
Episode 402: Broken Altars
Mar 31, 2025
Thomas Albert Howard, a professor of humanities and history at Valparaiso University, discusses his new book, which challenges the assumption that secularism is inherently less violent than religion. He argues that various forms of secularism, especially during tumultuous periods like the French Revolution, have instigated significant violence. Howard also delves into the conflicts between Marxism and religious practices in Russia, the implications of France's 1905 secular laws, and the transformative effects of Kemalism on Turkey's identity.
56:45
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast critiques the assumption that secularism inherently reduces violence, revealing that secular regimes often demonstrate violent capacities similar to religious ones.
- It categorizes secularism into passive, combative, and eliminationist types, highlighting how combative and eliminationist forms have historically led to significant violence against religious groups.
Deep dives
The Myth of Secularism's Innocence
The assumption that secularism inherently reduces violence, while religion promotes it, is critically examined. The podcast challenges the idea that secular governments, especially in the 20th century, have demonstrated less capacity for violence than religious regimes. In fact, it highlights that many secularist movements and governments have been responsible for significant acts of violence, often drawing parallels to the destructive potential of religious fundamentalism. The discussion emphasizes that this binary view oversimplifies a complex historical reality where secular ideologies have often led to profound societal harm.
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