In a globalized generation ideas travel across borders and ideologies. Like it or not, there is a growing international market of competing ideas.

This can terrify those who are afraid their beliefs cannot adequately compete so they resort to threats, intimidation and oppression. Their tactics may work for the short term but are ultimately doomed. It is a fearful approach that shows up in many religions, philosophies and politics.

While it is inappropriate to insult or offend their Prophet Muhammad a sentence of death to a journalist student is also inappropriate and offensive. My hope is that Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh (the journalism student) will appeal and that higher Afghan courts will reverse the severe sentence.

Let’s consider a better way. Promote respect and civility. When there is disrespect and incivility, do not reward such dysfunction but confront it with words. Believe that your faith can compete and convince others in a world of diverse doctrines.

As a Christian I believe that the truths of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus can and do compete with other worldviews without use of restrictions or coercion.

Listen to many religious folk and they will tell you that religion has been marginalized in American society. They feel they must shout louder to be heard at all.

Now we’re told that secularists are feeling left out and must also shout to be heard.

Sounds like everybody is into shouting!

America has a free market of ideas and beliefs. With so much diversity we are all worried that we won’t be heard. The good news is that we are all free to speak. The sometimes painful truth is that we can’t always make others listen.

I think of secularism as a perspective that doesn’t present God or religion as relevant. Not that secularists don’t believe in God or don’t belong to a religion; it’s just that neither God nor religion are much considered in daily life or national policy. By contrast, people with strong faith believe that God is relevant and important in all of life, including personal life and national policy.

That makes people of faith more comprehensive in perspective. We can and do engage in the issues and ideas of others (including secularists) and, at the same time, believe in God and have our faith to guide and inform us in dealing with the issues and ideas. So, of course we are interested in the religious perspective of political candidates because we want to know who and what is guiding their thinking.

To specifically answer the question: Secular ideas are not getting short shrift. They are just facing serious competition from religious ideas in our free market of beliefs.