Tag: Secularism

Secularism

The separation of religion and government is emphasized by the political and social concept known as secularism. It is a belief philosophy that advocates maintaining the separation of religion and state to avoid imposing particular religious views on the general populace. Although the idea of secularism has changed throughout time, its core idea has not changed: the state should not give preference to any one religion or any organization.

The origins of secularism can be traced back to the Enlightenment period in Europe. The Enlightenment thinkers believed in reason and rationality, and rejected the idea that religious dogma should be the basis for politics and governance. This idea of separating religion and state gained momentum during the French Revolution, which was marked by the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a secular republic.

In modern times, secularism has become an important principle for many countries around the world. In countries with a secular political system, the government is neutral in matters of religion, and does not promote or endorse any religion. This means that citizens are free to practice their own religion, or to not practice any religion at all, without fear of persecution or discrimination.

The key tenets of secularism include the following:

Separation of religion and state: This means that the state should not be involved in religious affairs and that religion should not be used as a basis for making political decisions.

Freedom of religion and belief: This means that individuals should be free to practice any religion or belief system, or to have no religion at all, without fear of persecution or discrimination.

Equality before the law: This means that all individuals, regardless of their religion or belief system, should be treated equally under the law.

Neutrality of the state: This means that the state should remain neutral with regard to religion and belief and should not favor any particular religion or belief system.

Public sphere: This means that the public sphere, which includes institutions such as schools, government agencies, and the media, should be free from any particular religious influence.

The United States is a good example of a country that has a secular political system. The First Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of religion, and the government is prohibited from establishing a state religion. This means that citizens are free to worship as they choose, without interference from the government.

Another example of a country with a secular political system is France. The French Revolution of 1789 marked the beginning of a secular republic, which was based on the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The French government is neutral in matters of religion, and religious symbols such as crucifixes, headscarves, and yarmulkes are not allowed in public schools or government buildings.

In India, secularism is enshrined in the Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of religion and prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion. However, the practice of secularism in India has been challenged in recent years by the rise of Hindu nationalism, which seeks to promote Hinduism as the dominant religion and marginalize other religious groups.

In Turkey, secularism is a founding principle of the state. The Turkish Republic was established in 1923 after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and was based on the principles of secularism and modernization. However, in recent years, there has been a growing trend towards Islamic conservatism in Turkey, which has led to tensions between secularists and religious conservatives.

The practice of secularism is not without its challenges. In some countries, the separation of religion and state is seen as a threat to traditional values and social cohesion. In other countries, religious groups may feel marginalized or discriminated against by a secular government. In some cases, secularism can be used as a cover for discrimination against religious groups, particularly minorities.

Another challenge to secularism is the rise of religious fundamentalism and extremism. Some religious groups seek to impose their beliefs on the population as a whole and may use violence or intimidation to achieve their goals. This can lead to tensions between religious groups and can undermine the stability of a secular society.

Secularism continues to be a crucial principle for many nations around the world despite these difficulties. A variety of religious practises and beliefs are permitted by the separation of church and state, which also supports individual liberty and human rights. It enables people to live their lives in accordance with their own views and ideals without worrying about discrimination or persecution.

SECULARISM

Secularism is defined as a doctrine where all religions are given equal status recognition and support from the state. In other words ,secularism simply means as a doctrine that promote separation of state from religion.

Secularism stands for that there should be no discrimination and partiality on grounds of religion and everyone should get an equal opportunity to follow the religion of their choice.

The tradition of secularism is inhibited In The Deep roots of the history of India. In a nation India the first face of secularism is reflected in the preamble of India where the word secular holds the most importance. Indian secularism is also reflected in its fundamental rights article 25 to 28 where the government guarantees each of its citizens the right to practice any religion.

In the words of PB Gajendragadkar ,a former Chief justice of India, secularism is defined as the state does not all loyalty to any particular religion as such it is not irreligious or anti religious it gives equal freedom to all religion.

Indian philosophy of secularism is related to “Sarva Dharma Sambhavana” ,meaning the destination of the parts followed by all religions is the same though the parts them self maybe different simply meaning secularism means equal respect to all religions.

India is a secular country and India does not attached its politics with any individual religion. We Indians together celebrate every festival as well as Indians have the entire freedom and say to celebrate their religion in the country regardless of the caste and creed.

The ideology of Secularism also allows people to express their opinions and beliefs freely. As in a secular state ,no religious group can apply pressure of dominance . Through this ideology, their has been an increasing effect on the right to speech.

The history of secularism in India way backs to 1976 ,where during the 42nd Amendment of the Indian Constitution. The leaders of Independent India had visualised India,  as a country where religion is no bar for its citizens.

SECULARISM IN MODERN INDIA

India was under the control of the East India Company and the British Raj after Aurangzeb. The British East India Company pursued a divide and rule policy, yet the spirit of secularism was strengthened and enriched by the Indian Freedom Movement. The politics of “divide and rule” has contributed to some extent to the conflict of communities between different communities. The partition of Bengal in 1905 followed this policy. The Council of the Indies Act of 1909 made available to other voters for Muslims. This provision was extended by the Government of India Act 1919 to seeks in certain states, Christians in India, Europeans, and Anglo-Indians. Separate voters further extended the co-representative principle by providing separate voters to the depressed class (planned caste), women and workers (workers) through the Indian Governance Act of 1935. The establishment of the Indian National Congress in 1885, with its secular values, united people of all denominations and led the free movement to a constructive and successful path. Nehru issued a long report (1928) calling for the abolition of another voter to create a secular state. Gandhi’s secularism was based on a commitment to brotherhood in the religious community based on respect and pursuit of truth, but J.L. Nehru’s secularism was based on a commitment to scientific humanism, adorned with a progressive view of historical change.

 To conclude , Secularism allows the people of various religions to live peacefully without any fear of the majority. It safeguard democracy by limiting the powers of the majority. It ensures harmony in the nation. In absence of secularism, religious persecutions may take place which may result in dissent, conflicts or even a civil war.