Secular Society
AN ASSIGNMENT ON
SECULARISM PREPARED IN
PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF REQUIREMENTS
OF THE COURSE
GS F211 (MODERN POLITICAL CONCEPTS)
SUBMITTED TO
SOLANO DA SILVA
SHIKHAR SHARMA( 2011A3PS048G) PALLAVI NEMA(2011A8PS294G)
MEET KALOLA(2011A4PS272G) PRAVEEN JOSHI(2011C6PS522G)
ROHIT DUA(2011A4PS269G)
INTRODUCTION
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries. Secularism encourages a social order separate from religion, without actively dismissing or criticizing religious belief. The essay traces the development of this concept right from the seventh century to the present scenario of a secular society. The views of some of the prominent thinkers like John locke, Voltaire, Russell and Gandhi have also been highlighted. The essay also presents secularism in Indian context as well as its interpretation in some of the western countries.
CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT
The term "secularism" was first used by the British writer George Jacob Holyoake in 1851. Holyoake argued that "Secularism is not an argument against Christianity , it is one independent of it. It does not question the pretensions of Christianity; it advances others. 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. Secular knowledge is manifestly that kind of knowledge which is founded in this life, which relates to the conduct of this life, conduces to the welfare of this life, and is capable of being tested by the experience of this life." He used the term secularism to describe his views of promoting a social order separate from religion, without actively dismissing or criticizing religious belief.
Although the term was new, the general notions of freethought on which it was based had existed throughout history.
SECULARISM PREPARED IN
PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF REQUIREMENTS
OF THE COURSE
GS F211 (MODERN POLITICAL CONCEPTS)
SUBMITTED TO
SOLANO DA SILVA
SHIKHAR SHARMA( 2011A3PS048G) PALLAVI NEMA(2011A8PS294G)
MEET KALOLA(2011A4PS272G) PRAVEEN JOSHI(2011C6PS522G)
ROHIT DUA(2011A4PS269G)
INTRODUCTION
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries. Secularism encourages a social order separate from religion, without actively dismissing or criticizing religious belief. The essay traces the development of this concept right from the seventh century to the present scenario of a secular society. The views of some of the prominent thinkers like John locke, Voltaire, Russell and Gandhi have also been highlighted. The essay also presents secularism in Indian context as well as its interpretation in some of the western countries.
CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT
The term "secularism" was first used by the British writer George Jacob Holyoake in 1851. Holyoake argued that "Secularism is not an argument against Christianity , it is one independent of it. It does not question the pretensions of Christianity; it advances others. 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. Secular knowledge is manifestly that kind of knowledge which is founded in this life, which relates to the conduct of this life, conduces to the welfare of this life, and is capable of being tested by the experience of this life." He used the term secularism to describe his views of promoting a social order separate from religion, without actively dismissing or criticizing religious belief.
Although the term was new, the general notions of freethought on which it was based had existed throughout history.
References: Yavuz, Hakan M. and John L. Esposio (2003) ‘’Turkish Islam and the Secular State: The Gulen Movement’’. Syracuse University, pg. xv–xvii.( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularism ) Sanjeev Sabhlok,15 April,2011,books “Liberty”(http://sabhlokcity.com/2011/04/john-lockes-seminal-views-on-toleration/) FC76The Italian Renaissance (c.1400-1550)( http://www.flowofhistory.com/category/export/html/222) Fitzpatrick, Martin (2000). "Toleration and the Enlightenment Movement" in Grell/Porter,Toleration in Enlightenment Europe, p. 64, footnote 91, Cambridge University Press(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltaire) A Letter Concerning Toleration, 1689(http://milewis.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/church-or-movement/) McCabe 's A RATIONALIST ENCYCLOPAEDIA, pp. 410-11 (http://www.edwardjayne.com/secular/biblio.html) Compare Infobase Limited(http://www.mapsofindia.com/personalities/gandhi/secularism.html) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_humanism (http://www.payvand.com/news/12/aug/1187.html) Sanjeev Sabhlok,15 April,2011,books “Liberty”(http://sabhlokcity.com/2011/04/john-lockes-seminal-views-on-toleration/)