
Belief in Dialogue describes the kind of secular society that I certainly would want when it states " The state seeks to provide ‘a space in the public square’ to a wide range of views to ensure the freedom of many religious groups and not just one or even none". Everyone has the right to express their views and live according to their beliefs and sometimes there can be a clash of values which people have to struggle with. An example of this might be the clash or seeming clash between equality and religious freedom and people must be given time to reconcile these rather than be castigated for what they believe. I think it is time for both secularists and religious people to believe that those who hold differing views from them are good, people of integrity, trying to do their best with the insights and wisdom that have been given them. If we look for goodness we shall surely find it and if we look for the opposite we will find that too. Pope Francis recently said that doing good is a principle that unites all humanity beyond the diversity of ideologies and religions and creates what he calls 'a culture of encounter' that is the foundation of peace. Is this not worthwhile striving for?