Timothy Garton Ash, What does a free society require of believers and non-believers alike?:
“We do, however, need to be clearer about the difference between secularism and atheism. Secularism, in my view, should be an argument about arrangements for a shared public and social life; atheism is an argument about scientific truth, individual liberation and the nature of the good life. Today’s debate around Islam is bedevilled by a confusion between the two. Atheists must be free to say to Muslims, Christians or Jews: “Your mind would be much more free if you gave up your ridiculous belief in God.” Believers must be free to argue back: “You would have a more profound sense of personal freedom if you did believe.” But neither is entitled to demand that of the other as a condition for participating as a citizen in a free society. The public policy argument about freedom for religion and the private conviction argument about freedom from or in religion should operate on different levels.”
