Democracy, religion, and ethical progress

pp. 139-157

in: John Shook, Dewey's social philosophy, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2014

Abstract

John Dewey Was an Atheist who argued that no one could reasonably accept the existence of supernatural powers. Religious naturalists may claim him as one of their own if Dewey's peculiar meaning to "religious' as almost synonymous with "ethical" is kept in mind. Although Dewey encouraged a lessening of influence of organized religions over society, he also prioritized full democratic participation for every citizen. His political philosophy never endorses the idea that political discourse should restrict or exclude appeal to religious values or religious faith. Dewey's political liberalism explicitly invites faith, religious experience, and religious values into public discourse and deliberation. The point of democracy is to discuss all values held within a society.