Religious Politics and Secular Values

Major Varieties of Secularism and their Political Agendas

Part 1 John Shook


John Shook is Director of Education at the Center for Inquiry and Research Associate in Philosophy at the University at Buffalo, since 2006. He has authored and edited more than a dozen books, is a co-editor of three philosophy journals, and travels for lectures and debates across the United States and around the world. His latest book is The God Debates.

Part 2 Barbara Forrest


Barbara Forrest is the co-author with Paul R. Gross of Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design. She served as an expert witness for the plaintiffs in the first legal case involving intelligent design, Kitzmiller et al. v. Dover Area School District, which was decided in favor of the plaintiffs in December 2005. She is a member of the board of directors of the National Center for Science Education and the National Advisory Council of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. She is a Professor of Philosophy in the Department of History and Political Science at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Part 3 Barry Lynn


Barry Lynn is the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington, D.C.-based organization dedicated to the preservation of the Constitution's religious liberty provisions. In addition to his work as a long-time activist and lawyer in the civil liberties field, Lynn is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He also serves as host of the radio show Culture Shocks, a daily look at various issues affecting society and the culture.

Part 4 Ron Lindsay


Ronald Lindsay is president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy from Georgetown University and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. He has been described both as a lawyer masquerading as a philosopher and as a philosopher pretending to be a lawyer. Both statements may be true. One undisputed fact: He is the author of Future Bioethics: Overcoming Taboos, Myths, and Dogmas

Part 5 Chris Mooney


Chris Mooney is host of CFI's Point of Inquiry podcast and the author of three books: The Republican War on Science, Storm World, and Unscientific America. He has been featured regularly by the national media, having appeared on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report, MSNBC's Morning Joe, CSPAN's Book TV, and NPR's Fresh Air With Terry Gross and Science Friday, among many other television and radio programs.

Part 6 Jeff Shartlet


Jeff Sharlet is a journalist, bestselling author, and academic best known for writing about religious subcultures in the United States. He is a contributing editor for Harper's and Rolling Stone. He has taught at New York University and is presently Mellon Assistant Professor of English at Dartmouth College. He is the author of the New York Times Bestsellers The Family and C Street, as well as the newly released Sweet Heaven When I Die (August 2011)