Secular Gospel

Freethinking essayist Chris Highland presents a new collection of his latest columns from the Asheville Citizen-Times, plus more essays to energize critical thinking. A non-theist who is not anti-religious, Highland offers perspectives on topics of interest to secular as well as believing people. Concise, controversial and inviting to dialogue, each brief essay opens a constructive path to common ground in a humanistic and sometimes humorous way. Highland draws from his love of nature, his years of interfaith chaplaincy and non-profit management and his emergence from faith, to engage readers in creative, critical thinking.

Essays include: Should We Fear or Cheer the Rise of Secularism?; Truth in a Post-Truth World; Turtles, Snakes, Rabbits and the Human Race; Learning the Language of Humanity; Still Points of History Along an Appalachian River; In the Galaxy of Religion, Resistance is Not Futile; Who Holds the Keys to the Kingdom, or Safe Sanctuaries?; Wonder is Wonder, Breathing is Breathing; Thomas Merton, Shakers and the Paradise Myth; Symbols and Statues of Liberty and Responsibility; Is it True All Religions Worship the Same God?; How Do We Know What an Atheist Believes?; Yoruba: the Greatest Religion You've Never Heard Of; Jesus, John Wayne and Militant Masculinity; Journey to the Forest of Freethought: A Secular Parable, and many more.