The Principles of Secularism Illustrated

by George Holyoake

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Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Philosophy

54 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1871

About the author

George Jacob Holyoake was mainly self-educated and a vigorous campaigner for secularism and freethought during the 19th century. He wrote 160 books and pamphlets and edited several magazines, including The Movement and The Reasoner. Holyoake was the last person in England to be imprisoned on a charge of atheism, for saying at a public lecture in Cheltenham in 1842 (at a time of economic hardship): “If I could have my way, I would place the deity on half pay as the Government of this country did its subaltern officers.”

It was Holyoake who suggested the term `secularism’ and organised the early Secular Societies, becoming Vice-President of the National Secular Society. Bradlaugh was preferred as President because he was a much more eloquent speaker. He campaigned with Bradlaugh for secular affirmations. Some of the other causes Holyoake championed were a free press, the rights of women and the liberation of oppressed nationalities.

In 1899 he presided at the inaugural meeting of the Rational Press Association which went on to publish books such as the cheap reprints of The History of Science series and The Thinker’s Library, in order to undermine religious superstition and help the spread of rational principles.

Reviews

[Anastasija · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the language and references may reflect the mid-19th century context, "The Principles of Secularism" remains relevant today, providing valuable insights into the role of science and reason in shaping social progress. However, readers should be aware that Holyoake's critique of religion may be controversial for some.

Overall, this is a thoughtful and pioneering text that continues to contribute to discussions on the separation of church and state and the role of secularism in modern society.

[Shumail Hassan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In fine, lay aside all prejudices on both sides, neither believe nor reject anything because others have rejected or disbelieved it Your reason is the only oracle given you by heaven, and you are answerable, not for the rightness, but for the uprightness of your opinion; and never mind evangelists, or pseudo-evangelists, who pretend to inspiration.

[Mohammad Magout · Rating 4 out of 5]

You may consider this book as some kind of a "Secularist Manifesto." It details what secularism means or, to be more precise, meant to one of the founding figures of the British secularist movement and the very person who coined the term "secularism."

The book is significant for it shows that secularism when it first emerged as a self-conscious movement did not merely indicate a political ideology of separating religion from politics, but a much more comprehensive school of thought that made social, political, philosophical, and even epistemological claims. The last aspect is significant if you are interested in Talal Asad's dissection of "the secular" as a category that signifies reality and knowledge about reality as opposed to "the religious," which in a secular framework belongs to the realm of fiction and (unfounded) belief. Indeed Holyoake's writings is one of the sources Asad uses to support his argument and by reading this book you can see that clearly.

Holyoake, for example, considers secularism and positivism to be inseparable from each other:

"A Secularist guides himself by maxims of Positivism [...] concerning himself with the real, the right, and the constructive. Positive principles are principles which are provable" (Ch. III, II)

Holyoake also defends in this book secularism as a moral philosophy that is based on Nature (with a capital N) by means of reason. In this book "Nature" seems to take some metaphysical, mystical, and moral character like God. This, I think, is a general character of Enlightenment literature.