English SecularismA CONFESSION OF BELIEFReading editionChapter navigation29 reading sectionsGo to chapterChoose a chapter…A CONFESSION OF BELIEFAUTHOR'S PREFACE.PUBLISHER'S PREFACE.Chapter I · OPEN THOUGHT THE FIRST STEP TO INTELLIGENCEChapter II · THE QUESTION STATEDChapter III · THE FIRST STAGE OF FREE THOUGHT: ITS NATURE AND LIMITATIONChapter IV · THE SECOND STAGE OF FREE THOUGHT: ENTERPRISEChapter V · CONQUESTS OF INVESTIGATIONChapter VI · STATIONARINESS OF CRITICISMChapter VII · THIRD STAGE OF FREE THOUGHT—SECULARISMChapter VIII · THREE PRINCIPLES VINDICATEDChapter IX · HOW SECULARISM AROSEChapter X · HOW SECULARISM WAS DIFFUSEDChapter XI · SECULAR INSTRUCTION DISTINCT FROM SECULARISMChapter XII · THE DISTINCTIVENESS MADE FURTHER EVIDENT.Chapter XIII · SELF-DEFENSIVE FOR THE PEOPLEChapter XIV · REJECTED TENETS REPLACED BY BETTERChapter XV · MORALITY INDEPENDENT OF THEOLOGYChapter XVI · ETHICAL CERTITUDEChapter XVII · THE ETHICAL METHOD OF CONTROVERSYChapter XVIII · ITS DISCRIMINATIONChapter XIX · APART FROM CHRISTIANISMChapter XX · SECULARISM CREATES A NEW RESPONSIBILITYChapter XXI · THROUGH OPPOSITION TO RECOGNITIONChapter XXII · SELF-EXTENDING PRINCIPLESSECULARIST CEREMONIES.ON MARRIAGE.NAMING CHILDREN.OVER THE DEAD.Beginning of this editionNext chapter →AUTHOR'S PREFACE.All chapters and sections (29)Other sectionsA CONFESSION OF BELIEFAUTHOR'S PREFACE.PUBLISHER'S PREFACE.Chapters12345678910111213141516171819202122Other sectionsSECULARIST CEREMONIES.ON MARRIAGE.NAMING CHILDREN.OVER THE DEAD.By George Jacob Holyoake1896AUTHOR'S PREFACE. →