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Line 15: − − ==History of Secularism== − The derivation of an ethical code from purely secular "worldly" concerns begins in Ancient Greece with the philosophical study of nature. The Hebrew term for ''nature'' is not found in the Bible.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=LT1V8Xgz1EUC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=hebrew&f=false|author=Leo Strauss|title=Natural Right and History|pate=80}}</ref> Hence, natural law, natural justice, and natural rights are Hellenic in origin. Greek and Roman philosophers, while not atheists, nevertheless built their ethnical philosophy from natural considerations. − − Christian theologians differed on their assessment of secular thought. [[Tertullian]] asks "What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?" On the other hand, [[Thomas Aquinas]] championed secular thought and provocatively starts the [[Summa Theologica]] with the question: "Whether, besides philosophy, any further doctrine is required?"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/summa/1001.htm|title=Summa Theologica|author=Thomas Aquinas}}</ref> After Aquinas, a harmony between secular thought and religion was the rule until the 19th century. The notion of secularism being inherently anti-religious becomes the norm after the [[French Revolution]].
→History of Secularism
In recent years, a number of notable atheists have expressed pessimism about the future of the [[atheist movement]] (see: [[Decline of the atheist movement]]).
In recent years, a number of notable atheists have expressed pessimism about the future of the [[atheist movement]] (see: [[Decline of the atheist movement]]).
== Secular state ==
== Secular state ==