Harris's basic arguments are hardly original, but they have an unfortunate pedigree. For more than three hundred years, from the French philosophes to Marx, Lenin, and the "death of God" theologies of the 1960s, we have been assured that, freed from the superstitions and imbecilities of organized religion, rational secularists could make the world into a utopia. The results have invariably been horrific-from the Terror of the French Revolution to the terrors of Nazism and Communism. Contrary
In his work, Robert J. Hutchinson critiques common arguments that suggest rational secularism, liberated from religion, can lead to a better society. He points out that this notion has been prevalent for over three centuries, with various intellectual movements promoting the idea that the removal of organized religion would pave the way for a utopian world. Despite these claims, history has shown that such secular ideologies often result in violence and suffering, as evidenced by historical events like the French Revolution and the rise of totalitarian regimes.
Hutchinson emphasizes that the historical outcomes of secular utopianism, rather than fulfilling their promises, have frequently led to disastrous consequences. Instead of a peaceful society, the rejection of religious values has sometimes contributed to significant human rights violations and societal chaos. He urges a re-examination of the belief that secularism can uniformly improve humanity, confronting the troubling legacy of past ideologies that sought to create a world free from religious influence.
