Secularism

From the sentences below some are compatible with the idea of secularism and some are not due to the following reason:

A. Absence of domination of one religious group by another – Compatible

- The absence of domination allows freedom to all religious groups existing in the state. Majority people of one religion will not be dominating the minority religion people and maintain peace between them. Both will have their own space and atmosphere to preach and worship.

B. Recognition of a state religion – Not Compatible

- Recognition of a state religion happens only in a non-secular country. For example, Pakistan has Islam as their state religion.

C. Equal state support to all religions – Compatible

- It provides every religion an opportunity and freedom to preserve its traditions and flourish in its own space without interfering in their matter.

D. Mandatory prayers in schools – Not Compatible

-Activities or worshiping due to compulsion is not accepted in the idea of secularism. Its people’s own wish to pray worship and thus should not be made mandatory.

E. Allowing separate educational institutions for any minority community – Compatible

- It will provide right to the minority to maintain its cultural identity and a chance to develop and provide protection and security to the people of minority religious group.

F. Appointment of temple management bodies by the government – Not Compatible

- Any appointment by the government will mark its involvement and interference this it would make it a direct involvement of state in religious affairs and proceedings.

G. Intervention of state to ensure entry of Dalits in temples – Compatible

- It prevents discrimination and provides equal rights to every social group. Secularism opposes religious and social domination and promotes equality and freedom for all.

Revised Table

Secularism is a normative policy which seeks a formation of a secular society. It is free from inter and intra religious domination and promotes freedom to accept and practice any religion of their choice. Secularism also ensures equality between religions as well as other existing religions. The state has no official religion of its own. It treats every citizen of different religion equally before the law.

Secularism cannot be equated with religious tolerance however it is considered to be one of the components of secularism but still secularism can’t be equated with tolerance because tolerance may be compatible with religious domination by one group in the nation.

A. I oppose this statement, because secularism does allow us to have a religious identity. In India the people are free to have a religious identity and choose a relation of their choice. They have a right to preserve, practice, represent and develop their religion and religious institution.

B. I support this statement, because it is true that the ideals of secularism are against inequalities within a religious group or between different religious groups. Indian government is seen to have an active role in maintaining peace and equality within various religious groups to prevent discrimination and to remove or keep a check on activities that may threat human dignity.

C. I oppose this statement, because secularism may have a western-Christian origin but that does not make it unsuitable for India. To the contrary this is most suitable for a country like India which has various religion, culture and ethnicity. India is a multi-cultural and religious society where every religion is given equal importance to maintain the integrity and harmony in the country.

Indian secularism does not solely focus on the separation of religion-state but it is also concerned with maintain peace and order between different religious groups and practices. In India, secularism has been established as the leading doctrine that opposes all forms of inter-religious domination. In a religious and culturally diversified country like India secularism works as the unifying force. Indian secularism promotes freedom and equality within all religion and on the same time keeps a check on its activities which might be harmful for the state of one’s dignity and protect the civil and social rights of the citizens. Therefore, state does not have a constant interference in the religious matter but it keeps a check and record of its influence on public life and interferes when required to maintain order and harmony.

Secularism means equal treatment of all religions. The concept of principled distance says that a secular state may keep a principled distance from religion in all ways to promote peace between different religious communities. The state may also intervene in the religious proceedings if it’s creating any type of disruption in the society to protect the rights of people or specific community. State provides equal preference to very religion and not discriminates and it may interfere if the religious groups try to implement their power to disrupt the political and social life of the people. This balanced distance of a state from other religious groups is known as the Principled Distance.