Expert: Austin Cline - 6/1/2005

Question
Dear Austin,
I am a 41 year old Frenchman living in Berlin, Germany. I grew up in a non religious family in Bordeaux. In France, religion - just like politics - is forbidden in public schools, as it should be a private matter and should not be imposed to anybody in any way: This is our conception of freedom of Religion. And so religion has never been a great issue to me; when I was a child, I hardly had one or two comrades out of 30 who went to church, whatever church it was. But for perhaps 15 years religion seems to have become an issue in France: some people would like to introduce religion in the public affairs like schools, governements, constitution... For my part, I am a little bit shocked when I hear president Bush refer to religion in official speeches, and I would be angry if it was to become the same in France. Until now I have never had to call myself "atheist", having nothing to defend, but I am beginning to realise there might be something to defend after all. I would be grateful to you if you could give me, as an American, your opinion on the subject and thank you very much in advance.
Kind Regards
Rémi

Answer
All over the world, conservative religion seems to be in resurgence. That wouldn't be so bad, though, if these same religious forces were not also pushing against the secular values of the Enlightenment. It sometimes seems as though Christians and Muslims are trying to overturn the Englightenment.

This is probably were the real battle lies: not in atheist vs. theist, but in Englightenment values vs. theocratic values. Many theists continue to believe in the Enlightenment, but unless they see it as in danger or under threat, they won't act. Quite a few theists in America are starting to wake up to the danger, but I don't know about France. I simply don't have enough experience or knowledge to say what people there are thinking.