I’m glad to announce that my next book, Religious Freedom in a Secular Age: A Christian Case for Liberty, Equality, and Secular Government, is available for pre-order and will come out on 3 May 2022.
Here’s the blurb:
In Religious Freedom in a Secular Age author Michael Bird argues that religious freedom should not be preserved by churches entrusting themselves to the protection of a conservative leader draped in the apparel of civil religion, nor should they consent to allowing religious freedom to be steamrolled by progressive activists with their increasing hostility towards people of faith. What is needed instead is a better appreciation for how secularism can work to create space for people of all faiths and none, to resolve tense relationships between church and state, and come to a fair and equitable settlement when religious liberty and LGBTI+ rights come into conflict. Bird tackles complicated debates about the nature, extent, and limitations of religious freedom with a view to encouraging Christians to stand up for their faith in a post-Christian world, in a way that is humble and gentle, yet also courageous.
Available from Amazon for pre-order.
Why did I write this book? Well, much like America, at the moment there’s a huge debate in Australia about religious freedom, and a massive and rather sinister misinformation campaign on the subject. You can read a great pamphlet here about it from the Institute for Civil Society.
I’ll be posting more about the book in the coming months, but for paid subscribers, here is a short preview from the book: