Edwin
George
Don
Bosco Youth Animation Centre, Chennai
Paper
Title: “The Philosophical
Challenges of Secularism: An Interpretation
with Panikkarian Vision and Dallmayrian Concerns.”
Abstract
This essay attempts to present the ongoing
debate on Secularism by social scientists, social theorists, political
theorists, political philosophers, philosophers of religion, theologians and
scholars of religious studies. This essay is set primarily on the notion of
secularism from the western perspective. This analysis takes into the account
the growing multicultural aspects of Western countries (both European and
American) in the social–political arena. It starts with the clarification of
the prevalent terms and goes on to analyze the contributions of one of the
greatest philosophers of religion, Raimon Panikkar. It moves on to present the
views of the contemporary American political thinker and philosopher, Fred
Dallmayr, to enable the relevance of these notions to flower in the global
political context. The focus here is on secularism in relation to
interculturality, religious faith and public space.
Dr. Edwin George is a catholic
religious priest belonging to the Indian Province of Chennai, of Salesians of
Don Bosco (SDB). He is currently serving as the Rector & Director of Don
Bosco Youth Animation Centre, Ennore, Chennai, India. He had been Dean of
Philosophy in various seminaries, in Kotadeniyawa (Sri Lanka), Yercaud and in
Poonamallee, Chennai, He has completed his Master’s Degrees in Philosophy (M.
A.) & Psychology (M. Sc.) and obtained his Doctorate (Ph. D) in Philosophy
from the University of Madras. He has taught philosophy in various seminaries
and colleges in India & Sri Lanka for over a decade now. He has presented
several research papers in national and international seminars and conferences.
He has published several research articles in books and reputed journals. He
works as a formator, youth counselor and animator.