Secularism is
Equating of secularism with religious tolerance:
a. Religious tolerance is a powerful base of secularism, i.e. state has positive attitude due to a sense of religious tolerance but they do not treat all sects equally.
b. Secularism provides fundamental rights to minority religious groups within the dominion of state.
c. The religious tolerance is not a right but a mutual sympathy.
d. Secularism opposes to intra-religious domination because, if religious tolerance is allowed only, then the people of majority will dominate the people of the minority.
e. Indian secularism emphasizes on peaceful co-existence refer to equal respect towards all religions and their practices and clarity in case of ambiguity.
f. Under Indian secularism, religiously sanctioned caste-hierarchy are not acceptable.
g. Though the secular state does not have to treat every aspect of every religion with equal respect, it stops disregard towards the genuine aspects of other sects or religion.
Western Secularism | Indian Secularism |
Strict non-interference of religion and state in each other’s affairs | State-supported religious reforms allowed |
Equality between different religious groups is a key concern | Equality between different sects of religion is emphasized |
Attention to minority rights | Less attention to community-based rights |
Individual and his rights at the Centre | Rights of both individual and religious community protected |
Western Secularism |
Indian Secularism |
Strict non-interference of religion and state in each other’s affairs |
State-supported religious reforms allowed |
Equality between different religious groups is a key concern |
Equality between different sects of religion is emphasized |
Less attention to community-based rights
|
Attention to minority rights
|
Individual and his rights at the Centre |
Rights of both individual and religious community protected |
a) It is opposed because secularism believes and supports the protection of religious identity, as being a part of human rights.
b) It is supported because:
c) It is opposed because
a. This idea is compatible because:
i. Due to equality, the majority of religious people will not dominate minority religious people.
ii. Minority religious people also enjoy freedom to practice any religious beliefs, way of worship and to preach as well.
b. It is not compatible because such situation prevails only in religious dominated state.
c. Equal support to all religions by state can be provided because:
Many states which are non-theocratic continue to have a close alliance with a particular religion. For example, the state in England in the sixteenth century was not run by a priestly class but clearly favoured the Anglican Church and its members. England had an established Anglican religion, which was the official religion of the state. Today Pakistan has an official state religion, namely Sunni Islam. Such regimes may leave little scope for internal dissent or religious equality. Till state shall not look at all religions, in the same way, social justice and non-discrimination cannot be imagined. In India, religious minorities have the right to maintain their own culture and educational institutions. This proves that state may provide similar support to all the religions.
d. It is not compatible because students, teacher and employees are free to adopt their own way to offer prayer.5.
e. It is compatible to provide protection and security to people of minority religious group.
f. It is not compatible to be the direct involvement of state and or government in religious affairs.
g. It is compatible because:
Religion has its share of some deep-rooted problems. For example, one can hardly think of a religion that treats its male and female members on an equal footing. In religions such as Hinduism, some sections have faced persistent discrimination. For example, Dalits have been barred from entering Hindu temples. In some parts of the country, Hindu woman cannot enter temples. When religion is organised, it is frequently taken over by its most conservative faction, which does not tolerate any dissent. Many religions fragment into sects which leads to frequent sectarian violence and persecution of dissenting minorities. To curb such practices state’s intervention is required.
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