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NCERT Class 11 Political Science Chapter 18 Secularism
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Secularism
Chapter: 18
| (PART-B) POLITICAL THEORY |
| TEXT BOOK QUESTIONS ANSWER |
1. Which of the following do you feel are compatible with the idea of secularism 7 Give reasons.
(a) Absence of domination of one religious group by another.
Ans: Absence of domination of one religious group by another is compatible with the ideas of secularism.
I can give the following ideas in support:
(i) Majority religious people will not dominate the minority religious group. There will be equality.
(ii) Minority religious groups will feel and have freedom of their faith, way of worship and atmosphere of preaching their faiths or religions.
(b) Recognition of a state religion.
Ans: For these reasons, secularism has a broad-based appeal to both religious and nonreligious citizens alike. Indeed, while secularism is often presented by its critics as being anti-religious, its application in highly religious societies, such as the United States and India, shows this not to be the case.
(c) Equal state support to all religions.
Ans: Secularism in India means equal treatment of all religions by the state. With the 42nd Amendment of the Constitution of India enacted in 1976, the Preamble to the Constitution asserted that India is a secular nation.
(d) Mandatory prayers in schools.
Ans: Secularism is a core principle of the Indian constitution. The constitution mandates separation of religion and state to ensure no religion dominates others and religious freedom for all.
(e) Allowing separate educational institutions for any minority community.
Ans: Allowing separate educational institutions for any minority is compatible with the idea of secularism as this will provide the right to the minority to maintain its cultural identity and a chance to develop.
(f) Appointment of temple management bodies by the government.
Ans: In government offices, if an individual shows respect and reverence to the materials, books, files or records which are being handled by the individual, it will be referable to his individual freedom and there is nothing to show that it affects the secular nature of the state.”
(g) Intervention of state to ensure entry of Dalits in temples.
Ans: Intervention of state to ensure entry of Dalits in temples is compatible with the idea of secularism as it prevents discrimination and provides equal rights to every social group.
2. 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 is a key concern. | Equality between different sects of a religion is emphasised. |
| Attention to minority rights. | Less attention to community based rights. |
| Individual and his rights at the centre. | Rights of both individual and religious communities are protected. |
Ans:
| Western Secularism | Indian Secularism |
| 1. State supported reli-gious reforms allowed. | Strict non-interference of religion and state in each other’s affairs. |
| 2. Equality between different sects of religion is emphasised. | Equality between different religious groups is a key concern. |
| 3. Less attention to a community based rights. | Attention to minority rights. |
| 4. Individual and his rights at the centre. | Rights of both individual and religious communities are protected. |
3. What do you understand about secularism? Can it be equated with religious tolerance?
Ans: Secularism is an ideology that says religion should not be involved with the ordinary social and political activities of a country. It dictates that there is no official religion of the state.
(i) Secularism:
(a) Definition: Secularism is most commonly thought of as the separation of religion from civil affairs and the state and may be broadened to a similar position seeking to remove or to minimize the role of religion in any public sphere.
(b) Separation of Religion and State: Secularism means separation of religion from political, economic, social and cultural aspects of life, religion being treated as a purely personal matter. It emphasized dissociation of the state from religion and full freedom to all religions and tolerance of all religions.
(c) Freedom of Religion: Article 25 says “all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion subject to public order, morality and health”. Further, Article 26 says that all denominations can manage their own affairs in matters of religion.
(d) Equality: There are many principles that are associated with all forms of political secularism. It typically promotes legal equality between people of different religions, opposing a legal hierarchy on the basis of religious belief or lack of religious belief.
(e) Purpose: For a country like India secularism is extremely important as it has more than 5 religions as a safeguard. There are some basic rights provided by the preamble of the Indian Constitution based on secularism in India, these are-Right to profess, Freedom of conscience, and the Right to practise.
(ii) Religious Tolerance:
(a) Definition: Religious toleration is people allowing other people to think or practice other religions and beliefs. In a country with a state religion, toleration means that the government allows other religions to be there. Many countries in past centuries allowed other religions but only in privacy.
(b) Acceptance: Religious tolerance means allowing others to have different religious beliefs from yours and practise their faith. We must all accept that others think their beliefs are true and accommodate their needs.
(c) Coexistence: It is correct to conclude that religious coexistence is a mutual relationship and. a better understanding between people of the same religion or people of different religions. religions living in a particular place.
(d) Non-Discrimination: This article ensures that every citizen is treated equally and does not face any discrimination based on their religious beliefs. Definition: Non-discrimination on the basis of religion implies that individuals should be treated equally and without prejudice, irrespective of their religious affiliations.
(e) Purpose: Religious Tolerance refers to the ability to appreciate spiritual values, beliefs and practices which are different from your own.
Secularism vs. Religious Tolerance:
(i) Scope:
(a) Secularism: Such regimes may leave little scope for internal dissent or religious equality. To be truly secular, a state must not only refuse to be theocratic but also have no formal, legal alliance with any religion. The separation of religion-state is, however, a necessary but not a sufficient ingredient of a secular state.
(b) Religious Tolerance: This principle is that society and the state should, as a matter of right, extend complete freedom of religious belief and expression to all their members and citizens and should refrain from imposing any religious tests, doctrines, or form of worship or religious association upon them.
(ii) Implementation:
(a) Secularism: Secularism has fostered a culture of tolerance and respect for different religions in India, promoting social harmony and reducing the risk of communal violence.
(b) Religious Tolerance: Religious Tolerance refers to the ability to appreciate spiritual values, beliefs and practices which are different from your own.
(c) Interrelation: Many secularists understand the separation of church and state to mean that religion should exist on the same plane as all other political actors-that it should not be permitted a privileged role in public life but should otherwise be a free and equal participant in political debates.
4. 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.
Ans: I disagree. Secularism does allow us to have a religious identity. It gives equal respect to all religions.
(b) Secularism is against inequality within a religious group or between different religious groups.
Ans: 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.
Ans: Secularism may have a western- Christian origin but it is suitable for India. This is due to the fact that India is a multi-cultural and religious society. Thus, it is necessary to ensure equal treatment to all groups both within and between different religions to maintain harmony and integrate the country.
5. Indian secularism focuses on more than the religion-state separation. Explain.
Ans: (i) Equal Respect for All Religions: Those who hold this belief are called omnists. In recent years, the term has been resurfacing due to the interest of modern-day self-described omnists who have rediscovered and begun to redefine the term. Omnism is similar to syncretism, the belief in a fusion of faiths in harmony.
(ii) Principle of Non-Discrimination: This means that individuals or groups of individuals which are in comparable situations should not be treated less favourably simply because of a particular characteristic such as their sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
(iii) State-Sponsored Religious Reforms: The secularism in India allows the idea of state-supported religious reforms, which ultimately bans practices like child marriage, untouchability and mistreatment of minorities.
(iv) Cultural and Educational Rights: Cultural and educational rights are the rights of everyone to participate in the cultural life of their community, to enjoy the arts, and to receive an education. They are recognized in international human rights treaties such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
(v) Freedom of Religion: Freedom of religion in contemporary India is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 25 of the nation’s constitution. Accordingly, every citizen of India has a right to profess, practice and propagate their religions peacefully.
(vi) State Involvement in Religious Affairs: The intervention of the State can also be in the form of assistance. One example of it is the establishment of schools and colleges by the religious communities and the fact that they are mostly granted by the Government of India. Financial aid is also given to these communities on a non-preferential basis.
(vii) Positive Secularism: Indian Constitution, following the concept of Sarva Dharma Sambhav, places the responsibility of defending the religious rights of the citizens of India on the Indian State. The above is termed as a positive version of secularism.
6. Explain the concept of principled distance.
Ans: According to the concept of principled distance, a secular state may keep a principled distance from religion to promote peace between communities and it may also intervene to protect the rights of specific communities.
Key Aspects of Principled Distance:
(i) Contextual Engagement: Contextualism in political philosophy is a methodological approach according to which attention to context is crucial in normative political argument.
(ii) Balancing Freedom and Equality: Liberty can be defined as the freedom to act freely in society, without being oppressed or restricted, whereas equality entails ensuring that all people are given equal rights, opportunities, and limitations, irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds.
(iii) Non-preferential Treatment: Non-preferential creditors, also known as unsecured creditors, are usually standard trade creditors who are paid after preferential debts have been settled in cases of insolvency.
