WebEssay on Secularism Secularism in contemporary society. Secularism is an important principle in modern societies. Despite the modernity of Individual conception of WebIn India, secularism means equal status to all religions. D.E. Smith in his book India as a Secular State defines, “the Secular State as a state which guarantees individual and WebAccording to Wilson (), ‘Secularization is a process in which religious thinking, practice and institutions lose social significance.’ Sometimes it is known as a movement away
Essay On Secularism - Assignment Point
Secularism in society has been a hot issue for decades, if not longer, and is a popular subject of debate and essay writing. Some argue that secularism is at fault for a perceived decline in the morality of society, whereas others feel that secularism represents a positive trajectory for society to take in terms of progress. At the same time, however, it is important to note that secularism is hardly an original concept in modern society and that the evolution of secularism can be traced over time. This sample sociology essay explores essay on secularism modern concept of secularism in contemporary society. Secularism is an important principle in modern societies. Despite the modernity of the concept, it was developed through the teachings of ancient Greek philosophers and played a part in everyday ancient Greek culture, essay on secularism.
Over time as the principle has evolved secularism was able to be distinctly essay on secularism. Secularism can be defined as the separation essay on secularism church and state. In other words, political decisions will not be influenced by any religious institutions, essay on secularism. The concept can also be expanded to all decisions governing the lives of its citizens, not just political ones, essay on secularism. This allows citizens to have reassurances that a religion they may or may not believe in will not influence the laws that govern their daily lives. Secular societies are usually found in democracies and can be found in many nations around the world although the versions of the concept may differ from country to country, essay on secularism.
Despite the prevalence of the principle, essay on secularism, not all individuals are supportive of the concept. Religious individuals may find that secularism is constricting on their religious freedoms and have largely viewed the principle as essay on secularism war against their religion. There have also been claims that the concept of secularism is not as modern a concept as has been thought, essay on secularism. Certain scholars theorize that the concept of secularism itself will change. Through demonstrating the way in which secularism has developed over time the modernity of the concept will be established. Secularism all over the world will also be analyzed to demonstrate the modernity of the essay on secularism. The principle of secularism is a modern concept as it frees individuals from the constraints of religion.
The concept is modern as the religious myths were dispelled with the rise of rationality. Secularism is a concept that is modern in all themes of modernity: political, cultural, scientific and philosophical. Secularism is politically modern as during the Enlightenment it was determined that politics should essay on secularism focused on not on how society should be but how it actually is. In that form secularism can assist in doing this as religion in government can influence politicians to create laws which ascribe to a religious ideal of how society should be, essay on secularism.
Secularism is also culturally modern as individuals no longer rely on religion to govern their daily lives, essay on secularism. In the past religion would dictate when individuals would eat, what work they would complete, whom they would marry, essay on secularism, or what activities they could engage in. For modern individuals, religion no longer governs their lives in the same way it did for those living in medieval times. Secularism is also a scientifically modern concept as science refutes many of the beliefs held by religions.
Modernity establishes itself on what is rational and religious beliefs are not rational which is what makes secularism entirely modern. The Age of Enlightenment was a movement during the seventeenth and eighteenth century that strived to change society in the pursuit of reason and rationality. The scientific method essay on secularism seen as the proper vehicle for governing knowledge rather than religion. Philosophers and the essay on secularism revolution propelled the Age of Enlightenment forward and ensured that secularism would be a founding principle of democratic societies. However, some scholars have argued that the Enlightenment has not had the influence on religion that was originally thought to have been had.
Although the reliance of religion was still prevalent around the seventeenth and eighteenth century the influence of religion has decreased over time. Although religious institutions are still large and the numbers of individuals who state they are religious are numerous the actual extent that religion influences daily life have decreased in our modern age. However, extremely religious people who subscribe to the creationist beliefs continue to feel that their religion is being attacked by scientists who propose the Big Bang Theory or politicians who no longer ascribe to religious beliefs to influence policies despite the contrary evidence. Individuals who are religious these days may attend a church service once a week or attend religious organizations occasionally as a part of their belief system.
However, religion does not govern our daily lives as it has done so in the past. Due to the uncertainty of life and lack of knowledge about science those living in medieval times allowed religion to govern when they would eat, grow their crops, who they would marry and what they believed. The influence of religion was vast and extreme as individuals would believe that they would be punished for their actions if they displeased their God. As scientific reasoning began to change the views of individuals on the very existence of their world, religion became less prominent. As religion has evolved over time so has the concept of secularism itself.
After the advent of the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment, the French Revolution played a key role in adapting the concept. While the Enlightenment advanced the thought of religion apart from daily life. The French Revolution advanced the idea of the separation of religion and politics. The ideology of the revolution was to overthrow the power from the bourgeoisie to the masses. The church was a prominent feature of the bourgeoisie class as the institution got wealthy of the charity and taxes given by the poor workers, essay on secularism. The French Revolution advanced the concept of secularism that is currently present in Western essay on secularism. However, scholars have argued that some aspects of the French Revolution strived to preserve religion in some way.
numerous thinkers of quite different religious and political persuasions were convinced that people needed to worship some transcendent force of idea if civilization was to survive the crisis of legitimation that afflicted it. As religion has been seen as the core step in forming a civilization there is a fear of what our society could become without the moral grounding that religion provides, essay on secularism. This is an argument posed by those against secularism of society. For example, members of the Protestant faiths believe it is their Christian ethics and belief system that defines society and not secular rules enforced by governments. While the French Revolution advanced the concept of secularism to Western democracies.
Colonialism spread the concept all over the world. As European countries conquered third world countries, they spread their cultural and political beliefs. One of these principles was secularism. While many nations have difficulty separating their religious beliefs from their politics, other nations were able to adapt and evolve into essay on secularism beliefs. India is a common example of a nation which adopted a secularist principle in their government. For India, secularism was an important step in creating the unity that was needed after independence led to strong religious discord between Muslims and Hindus.
Through espousing the principle of secularism, Indian politicians strived to show that religion did not matter as politics would be separate from religion. The nation used secularism as a principle to advance unity. The rise of religious movements especially in Islamic countries has demonstrated that religion is not as an endangered essay on secularism as has been taught. Islamic countries largely rule with religious laws and decrees. Most Islamic countries are theocracies which go against secularist views. The anger and animosity that Islamic countries hold towards Western nations could be in part to the secularism that exists in these countries.
Islamic countries may believe that these countries who do not follow God may be immoral, essay on secularism. As those religious individuals who within Western countries believe that secularism is an assault on their religion, Islamic countries feel that Western principles are an assault on their religions and way of life. Early Islamic expansion also had trouble dividing religion from government and implementing secular rules. Islamic countries have largely been essay on secularism for these beliefs however scholars essay on secularism argued that these beliefs are a result of secularist philosophies, essay on secularism.
The backlash against secularism within these countries demonstrates that the concept of secularism needs to evolve to accommodate nations which had difficulty separating their politics and religion as Islamic countries do. This could also go towards accommodating extremely religious individuals in Western societies who believe that secularism in government impugned on their religious freedoms. The debates and speeches over religious freedom and freedom from religion bring us to the current role essay on secularism secularism in our society. A faction of our society have strong religious beliefs and would want religion present in all facets of daily life in order to be a continual reminder of religion and God.
These individuals believe that religion plays an important role in maintaining morality in society and secularism has driven essay on secularism from our culture. Critics of secularism would attempt to restore religions role in society in an effort to restore this morality. On the other side of the debate are those who see images of religion still present in our politics and government despite secularism. Some would argue that the word God and elements from the Essay on secularism of Genesis exists in our pledge of allegiance, on our money and on several government landmarks or buildings.
In this case, essay on secularism, unlike in the first type of conflict, the contested symbol represents the dominant religion and not that of minority groups. The presence of just Judeo-Christian beliefs in government is another conflict which secularism should hope to avoid. By only indicating the presence of one religion demonstrates that the government believes in the superiority of one religion over another. This could lead to conflict in a country such as the United States where many different ethnicities, cultures, and religions exist. By staying truly secularist a country can avoid favoring one religion over another leading to less conflict and strife.
This can lead to the unity which India strived towards. Despite its roots in the ancient and development through history secularism is a highly modern concept. It existence could not be present without the Enlightenment which brought about the modern era. Secularism is also a modern concept as religion was such a key part of ancient society that civilizations could not exist without it. As societies evolved and became more modern the need for religion for the society to function has decreased. In our modern era, religion plays a less key role in the functioning of our society, essay on secularism. However, the concept of religion continues to play a part in our discourse.
Secularism may evolve to a principle which will no longer exist as religion continues to no longer play a key role in our society. A separation of church and state will no longer be necessary as lawmakers would no longer make decisions based on their religion and individuals would no longer need to fight for their religious freedoms. The modernity of secularism may give rise to a new form of postmodernism, essay on secularism. Despite the claim that our democratic society is secularist the policies and positions which lawmakers at times support can refute that claim. Topics which are highly controversial and debated among lawmakers in the United States are largely based in religion, essay on secularism.
Issues such as gay marriage, abortion, and banning prayer in schools are debates that would not exist without religion. Opponents of gay marriage are against the idea because of religious doctrines that dictate that homosexuality is wrong and against the teachings of God. Opponents also argue that they are aiming to preserve the sanctity of the institution of marriage by not allowing gay people to desecrate it. Marriage can be considered a largely religious institution that politics is being used to protect. Those who protest abortion also do so because of religious beliefs.
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Web1/01/ · Secularism is the separation of state and religion. It is the exclusion or rejection of religion from political or civil affairs of the state. Being an ancient belief of some WebAccording to Wilson (), ‘Secularization is a process in which religious thinking, practice and institutions lose social significance.’ Sometimes it is known as a movement away WebThe people have almost always enjoyed freedom to profess, preach and propagate the religion of their choice and this tradition has been upheld by our constitution fathers.
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