Some of the key characteristics of the western and Indian Model of secularism have got mixed up. Separate them and make a new table.
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 in key concern. |
Equality between different sects of a religion is emphasised. |
Attention to minority rights. |
Less attention to a community based rights. |
Individual and his rights at the centre. |
Rights of both individual and religious community protected. |
Western Secularism |
Indian Secularism |
State supported religious reforms allowed |
Strict non–interference of religion and state in each other is affairs |
Equality between different sects of religion is emphasised. |
Equality between different religious groups is a key concern. |
Less attention to a community based rights |
Attention to minority rights. |
Individual and his rights at the centre |
Rights of both individual and religious communities protected. |
What do you understand by secularism ? Can it be equated with religious tolerance?
Secularism is a doctrine that opposes any form of religious and intra-religious domination. It does not oppose religion itself.
Secularism cannot be equated with religious tolerance as tolerance may be compatible with religious domination by one group. However, religious tolerance is one of the components of secularism.
Indian Secularism focuses on more than the religion–state separation. Explain.
Which of the following do you feel are compatible with the idea of secularism ? Give reasons.
(a) Absence of domination of one religious group by another.
(b) Recognition of a state religion.
(c) Equal state support to all religions
(d) Mandatory prayers in schools.
(e) Allowing separate educational institutions for any minority community.
(f) Appointment of temple management bodies by the government.
(g) Intervention of state to ensure enter of Dalits in temples.(a) Absence of domination of one religious group by another is compatible with the ideas of secularism as it allows freedom to all religious groups.
(b) Recognition of a state religion is not compatible with the idea of secularism because it fails to recognize other religious group.
(c) Equal state support to all religions is compatible as it treats all religion equally.
(d) Mandatory prayers in schools is not compatible with the idea of secularism because all human being are not religious.
(e) It is not compatible with the idea of secularism as it grants special priviledge to minorities at the cost of majority.
(f)It is not compatible with the idea of secularism as it is direct involvement of state or government in religious affairs.
(g) It is compatible with the idea of secularism because as the state has right to protect the weaker section os society.
Do you agree with the following statements ? Give reasons for supporting or opposing any of them.
(a) Secularism does not allow us to have a religious identity.
(b) Secularism is against inequality within a religious group or between different religious groups.
(c) Secularism has a western Christian origin. It is not suitable for India.(a) I disagree. Secularism does allow us to have a religious identity. It gives equal respect to all religion.
(b)Secularism is against inequality both within a religious group and between different religious groups. The Indian government maintains equality within religious groups to prevent discrimination and eradicate practices that are exploitative for an individual.
(c) I oppose this statement. India evolved a variant of secularism that is not just an implant from the west on Indian soil. The fact is that the secularism has both western and nonwestern origins. In the west, it was the Church-state separation which was central and in countries such as India, the ideas of peaceful co-existence of different religious communities has been important.