Meaning of Secularism

Secularism may assert the right to be free from religious rule and teachings, and the right to freedom from governmental imposition of religion upon the people within a state that is neutral on matters of belief. In another sense, it refers to the view that human activities and decisions, especially political ones, should be based on evidence and fact unbiased by religious influence.

Examples of Secularism

Eating and bathing may be regarded as examples of secular activities, because there may not be anything inherently religious about them. Nevertheless, both eating and bathing are regarded as sacraments in some religious traditions, and therefore would be religious activities in those world views. Saying a prayer derived from religious text or doctrine, worshipping through the context of a religion, and attending a religious school are examples of religious (non-secular) activities. Prayer and meditation are not necessarily non-secular, since the concept of spirituality and higher consciousness are not married solely to any religion but are practiced and arose independently across a continuum of cultures.

Characteristics of Secularism

Secularism can be understood more precisely through the Characteristics of Secularism as follows :

(1) Limitation of Religion in Public Arena : The secularism imply also the acceptance of a somewhat more general principle : that the realm of validity of religion in the public arena and society is necessarily limited. Religion, being above all a matter of personal faith, cannot be used as the basis of settling questions of the real world, or of man in society. While individuals in society may base their values on particular religious tenets, where such questions impinge on society as a whole the basis of discussion and social consensus cannot be religion-much less one particular religion.

(2) Eradicator of Social Evils : Despite the weaknesses of actual practice, elements of this understanding of secularism have been an essential part of accepted political values of Modern Indian Society, leading, for instance, to the rejection of untouchability and sati, to the formal rejection of caste, and to the institution of affirmative action as a means of redressing socio-economic inequalities.

(3) Its Roots are Wold-Wide : Secularism draws its intellectual roots from Greek and Roman philosophers such as Marcus Aurelius and Epicurus, Medieval Muslim polymaths such as Ibn Rushd, Enlightenment thinkers like Denis Diderot, Voltaire, John Locke, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Raine, and modern free thinkers, agnostics and atheists such as Bertrand Russell and Robert Ingersoll.

(4) A Part and Parcel of Modernization : The purposes and arguments in support of secularism vary widely. In European laicism, it has been argued that secularism is a movement toward modernization, and away from traditional religious values. This type of secularism, on a social or philosophical level, has often occurred while maintaining an official state church or other state support of religion.

Indian Concept of Secularism

India is a secular country. The Sanskrit word that is commonly used for Secularism in India is ‘Dharmanirapekshata’ and which means “indifference towards religion.” The usage itself denotes the understanding of secularism as more a policy of political practice than a philosophy in itself. Secularism is normally defined as something that has nothing to do with religion. But the Indian definition means Sarva Dharma Samabhav (all religions are equal). It means 'religious tolerance.' In another words, “A secular country will not make decisions based on a person’s religion and the citizens of such a country will be free to practise any religion of their choice.”

Modern Concept of Secularism

Secularism as a modern political and constitutional principle involves two basic propositions. The first is that people belonging to different faiths and sections of society are equal before the law, the Constitution and government policy. The second requirement is that there can be no mixing up of religion and politics. It follows therefore that there can be no discrimination against anyone on the basis of religion or faith nor is there room for the hegemony of one religion or majoritarian religious sentiments and aspirations. In nutshell Secularism is the concept that government or other entities should exist separately from religion and/or religious beliefs.

Causes for Adopting Secularism in India

Many a times the question that arises in the mind of an Indian is - Why are we secular ? This question becomes more demanding for an answer when we feel the heat of communal configurations. India being still a traditional society that contains not one, but many traditions owing their origin in part to the different religions that exist here. While India carries with it many traditions it has managed to retain the secular character of its polity, while in many countries especially from the third world, a secular authority has crumbled in face of conflicting traditions. Ledanon and Cyprus are only two instances. Even in those countries where a single tradition holds sway, secular forces have not always been able to hold their own against the forces of tradition. Iran and Algeria a case in point. The main cause of adopting secularism in India are as follows :

(1) The roots of Hindu religion, the religion of most of the Indian, is unique in the sense that it is the only surviving major religion today that has retained a continuous link with its hazy origins in antiquity. Hinduism has no founder, no code of beliefs, it never had any religious organisation that wielded temporal power over its followers.

(2) Its distinguishing characteristics of India is its diversity and multiplicity. It also give way to the others to follow their own path without any threat so far as. Such a national mentality provides a soft corner for all and it becomes the ultimate ground for the development of secularism.

(3) Innumerable sects like Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism from Hinduism provided India an endless and overlapping multiplicity of sects originating from a common system of beliefs, made essential, the tolerance of every sect and sub-sect of each other.

(4) As in the West, the idea of separation of the Church from the state has also existed in India since ancient times. According to the ‘divinely ordained’ caste system, the priestly function belonged to the Brahmins while the rulership vested with the Kshatriyas. The Brahmin priest was expected to advise the king, but could not himself rule as per the caste rules.

(5) The general environment of religious liberty and the official tradition of religious tolerance which prevailed in ancient India, represents the secular state in India today. In the words of Donald Smith various schools of thought propounded the doctrines of agnosticism, atheism and materialism. Jainism, Buddhism and later Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Islam were permitted to propagate their teachings, build their places of worship, and establish their respective ways of life.

Thus in India the secular state of today is built upon our substantial ancient historical foundations. According to Donald Smith, “The Hindu state of ancient medieval, or modern times was not a narrowly sectarian state in any sense; patronage was frequently extended simultaneously to various sects and religions. The British policy of religious neutrality was the direct antecedent of the secular Indian state of today. The mainstream of Indian nationalism, which led to independence in 1947, had a decidedly secular orientation throughout most of its history.”

...Prev | Next...