English Secularism: A Confession of Belief (1896)

English Secularism: A Confession of Belief is a book written by George Jacob Holyoake in 1896. Holyoake was a prominent British secularist who played a significant role in the development of secularism in England during the 19th century. In this book, he provides a detailed account of his personal beliefs and the principles of secularism.Holyoake begins by defining secularism as a philosophy that separates religious and political power. He argues that this separation is necessary to ensure freedom of thought and expression, as well as to promote scientific progress and social justice. He then discusses the history of secularism, tracing its origins back to the ancient Greeks and Romans and its development through the Enlightenment.Throughout the book, Holyoake emphasizes the importance of reason and evidence in guiding human behavior and decision-making. He argues that religion should be a matter of personal choice, rather than something imposed by authority. He also advocates for the rights of women and workers, and criticizes the class system and other forms of inequality.Overall, English Secularism: A Confession of Belief is a passionate defense of secularism and a call to action for those who believe in its principles. It remains a significant work in the history of secularism and a valuable resource for anyone interested in the philosophy of religion and politics.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.