Eric Kaufmann’s seminar at ICSR gave a brief introduction to the key issues raised in his new book, Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth (Profile Books, 2010), which provides a counter argument to theories that posit the decline of religion and the subsequent rise of liberal secularism.
The book focuses on trends in religious demography. Mr Kaufmann uses this methodological approach to highlight the potential that religious fundamentalism has to challenge the dominance of liberalism and secularism. He explained how patterns in global population change and fertility rates among fundamentalist groups are contributing to the strengthening and expansion of fundamentalist movements, particularly in the developed world. Mr Kaufmann went on to discuss the possible implications of these developments for liberal society.