Secularism, Equality, and Political Legitimacy

Mahoney, J. (2010). Journal of Value Inquiry, March 2010

In recent years, most discussion on the topic of secularism and political legitimacy has centered on the United States. Some relevant examples that have shaped the current debate over religious exemptions to legitimate secular law include the controversial Yoder decision, limited exemptions from federal drug laws, as well as exemptions from various forms of military service... While we will use as background familiar liberal claims about secularism and legitimacy as they are applied to the American context, the focus of the following discussion will be on contemporary Turkey...