I wish to begin this post by
exploring the basic meaning of Secularism.
Secularism is the principle of the separation of government
institutions and persons mandated to represent the
state from religious
institutions and religious dignitaries.
One manifestation of Secularism is
asserting the right to be free from religious rule and teachings, or, in a
state declared to be neutral on matters of belief, from the imposition by
government of religion or religious practices upon its people. Another manifestation of Secularism is the view that public
activities and decisions, especially political ones, should be uninfluenced by religious beliefs and/or
practices. Secularism draws its
intellectual roots from Greek and Roman philosophers such as Marcus Aurelius and Epicurus; from Enlightenment thinkers such as Denis
Diderot, Voltaire, Baruch
Spinoza, James
Madison, Thomas
Jefferson, and Thomas
Paine; and from more recent freethinkers and atheists such as Robert
Ingersoll and Bertrand
Russell.
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 (also known as secularization). 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. In the United States, some argue that state
Secularism has served to a greater extent to protect religion and the
religious from governmental interference, while Secularism on a social level is less prevalent. Within countries as
well, differing political movements support
Secularism for varying reasons.
The term Secularism
stands conveniently abused by many a learnt member of the Indian Polity. Although
the term was new, the general notion of free thought on which it was based had existed throughout history. While in India, the
term assumed a rather sorry state of use. Anything and everything related to a
specific religion i.e. Hinduism and thoughts related thereof were propagated to
be non-secular while holding thoughts in line with other religions were not
included in such a definition – absurd abuse of position by political masters and intellectual retards, to say the least.
The term Secularism
should have been used to describe a class of political views that promote a
social order separate from religion, without actively dismissing or criticizing
religious belief. While at it, if we were to look at the Indian Political
Landscape, most of the Political Parties which profess religious views and seek
to represent a certain section of the society will have to be termed
Non-Secular. It is important that we understand that Secularism is not an argument against any religion, it is one
independent of it. It does not question the pretensions of any religion or
faith; rather it helps separate the State from Religion, thus fostering general
wellbeing. Secularism does not say
there is no light or guidance elsewhere, but maintains that there is light and
guidance in secular truth, whose conditions and sanctions exist independently,
and act forever.
Few confused hard-line Secularists seek to advocate religious
propositions related to particular faith/religion to be epistemologically illegitimate, warranted by neither reason nor experience, thus
fostering support for other religions. It is imperative to understand that movement
away/towards a particular religion does not necessarily constitute Secularism. I hope to see the new breed
of Politicians in India are well-educated and understand the true essence of
what Secularism stands for.
Place: Hong Kong
Date: 16th May 2014
