Secularism

Perhaps our political culture would be healthier if questions of ultimate meaning were not on the ballot every four years or divined by Supreme Court justices, and instead, were worked out in communities and consciences.

In recent history, societies have become wealthier, healthier and more democratic but also more secular, more open and more tolerant.

After a court ruling paved the way for nontraditional religions to take part, a "Pastafarian" pastor from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster led prayers at a local assembly meeting in Alaska Tuesday.

Rapper Medine, whose lyrics include "Let's crucify the secularists," is due to play two dates at the venue in October.

France has been a secular country since it passed a law separating the church and the state in 1905.

The government must form its own democratic model, balancing religion and secularism.

After the government's post-coup purges, being secular in Turkey has become fraught with danger.

Decision follows a ruling by France's high court that a similar ban was illegal.

Extreme secularism isn't just hypocritical and often racist—it doesn't work.

France is not a special case—attackers are not rebelling against prevailing social conditions.

In France, there is a more systematic use of the law against Islamic practices.

In 2015, extremists killed four other secular bloggers in Bangladesh.

Niloy Chakrabarti wrote about secular topics and in defence of minorities in Bangladesh.

A blogger was hacked to death by machete-wielding attackers in Bangladesh on Tuesday, the third killing of an online critic of religious extremism in the Muslim-majority nation in less than three months.

There are almost 8 percent more religiously unaffiliated Americans than there were in 2007.