If we are to look at secularism with any sort of legitimacy (I'm open to it, but I don't see it that way right now), then we must justify from a secular perspective where our laws and rights come from and precisely why they are the way they are.


Take "freedom" for example. In Catholicism, social/political Freedom is the right to choose what is good. According to right-wing secularists, it is the right to choose whatever we want. According to left-wing secularists... well they can be a bit schizophrenic about freedom.

I'd like to recommend a few different books (in the order I think you should read them).

Worshipping the State: How Liberalism Became Our State Religion

This, I think, would have a deep impact on your opinions of secularism. I thought it was extremely illuminative. Its an easy read, and you can even get the audio book for under $5.00. If you get this book, feel free to reach out to me, I'd love to talk about it with you. If you really like it, then this book is very similar, with two differences: it is more in depth and focuses on biblical interpretation.

Church, State, and Society: An Introduction to Catholic Social Doctrine (Catholic Moral Thought)

Here is where the rubber meets the road. This book is all about how the Catholic ideas about society and politics can help the secular world.

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

This is more of a reference work than a read front to back kind of book. But its great. Its basically a social/political Catechism of the Catholic Church.



Edit: fixed a link