Essay on Secularism Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.
Secularism implies equal respect for all religions in the same measure as we have for our own. In our country, the liberty of “belief, faith, and worship”, as enshrined in the Constitution, has been implemented by incorporating the Fundamental Rights of all citizens to “freedom of religion” vide Articles 25-29. Secularism, as any theologian would tell us, lies at the very root of all religions and faiths in this world.
It is true that the earliest force of civilization was religion. In the West, it was religion, whether pagan or Christian, that consolidated the idea of political sovereignty. In the East, it was religion again that provided the foundation of the State. The glorious structure of the ideal Hindu State or ‘Ram Rajya’ was religious to the backbone. The idea of the Islamic State in the imperialistic history of Islam, as distinguished from the domestic history of a few ideal Muslim rulers, is nothing but the conquering sword of Islam dripping with the blood of the victims of the religion of Islam. For a time, religion was a necessity and a boon to keep people together within the organisation of a State. It was an advance in the thought of humanity to regard a fellow being as a brother by virtue of the fact that he was the son of the same Father, inhabiting the same land over which the Father ruled. The idea of political sovereignty and of geographical unity was given to the world in an emphatic form by religion, Even the idea of One World Government under the Supreme Lord is religious in its origin. But as fanaticism increased, the force of reason declined in religion. Faith became corrupt, and religion became a source of discord and bloodshed. Some of the greatest wars of the world and the bloodiest massacres have been perpetrated in the name of religion. The history of the Middle Ages in Europe is a record of the havoc which religion created in the national and the international fields. It was, therefore, found necessary that the States should tear themselves away from the world-devouring force of religion. The dawn of the modern era is characterised by this change in Europe. The doctrine of the two swords and the councilor theory led to the development of the secular State.
Revolution followed the revolution in Europe until the principles of secular sovereignty were fully established in France, America, England, Germany, and Russia. A band of distinguished writers gave the world a very complete theory of the sovereignty of the secular State. Rousseau is one of the most eminent leaders of this group. Karl Marx is another. And there are many more who have not had the luck of becoming world-famous.
From the point of view of history, the modern age is characterised by a change in the fundamental attitude of humanity. People of the Middle Ages were led by the theocratic States. They had visions of absolute happiness here and hereafter; they had promises of all knowledge and God communions; they lived in the hope of developing hidden powers and the third eye through faith, and they hoped for a peaceful and ascetic order of society. But in the long run, they found that all their hopes and expectations were blasted by the theocratic State. Instead of happiness, there was misery arising from fanaticism, crusades, and religious wars. Instead of human brotherhood all over the world, the entire humanity was torn up into religious factions. Instead of knowledge, there was all-around darkness, not only about religion and God but also about nature and man. Instead of developing institutions or the third eye, even the intellect was not developed. Instead of a high moral order prevailing in society, there was nothing but corruption, hypocrisy, immorality, and selfishness in the Church and the monasteries.
The forces of Renaissance and Reformation were at work. Reason assumed the supremacy over faith and States became non-theocratic or non-religious, i.e., secular. They set about removing the deficiencies of the theocratic State. Instead of abstract happiness, they undertook to provide man with his physical, economic, and social needs and wants. They sought to introduce an intelligent social morality against ritualistic custom. They understood to develop the intellect and promote scientific knowledge of man and nature. But this did not mean that the secular State was to annihilate religion. On the contrary, the secular State set about developing religion as an institution of civilization and as a cultural value. In regard to religion, the goal of the secular State is to evolve something universal which should be capable of satisfying the religious thrust of humanity without any of the dangers that history records in connection with religion in the theocratic States.
The present world is increasingly in the grip of religious fundamentalism. Politicians and religious leaders of all hues inflame communal passions at the slightest provocation. The cases of Salman Rushdie and Taslima Nasreen are well-known. In India, ever since Independence, communal violence has almost become a way of life for the people. Whether it is Bhiwandi or Hubli or Ayodhya after the demolition of the Babri Masjid structure, religion has always been misused to exploit personal as well as political ends. We have lost all patience and tolerance for believers in other religions and faiths. Fundamentalism is the biggest threat to secularism today. It does not give us any chance for understanding others’ points of view. The question of loving other religions equally as we love our does not, therefore, arise. Consequently, secularism remains a tenet on paper only.
The vast religious literature available to us also lends itself to diverse interpretations. Value systems in different faiths are represented differently by different theologians. The reason is often blurred. A broad, cosmopolitan outlook, which is so essential to practise healthy secularism, is what is required today. One need not be an atheist, but what one must realise, like Jawaharlal Nehru, is that secularism does not mean conflict with religions other than one’s own. Any person, who understands the true import of religion, will automatically become secular; he would tolerate, understand and love other religions in addition to his own.
To the Father of Nation, religion meant love, non-violence, and above all, tolerance of different creeds. “I know of no great sin”, Gandhiji said, “than to oppress the innocent in the name of God”. People must be made to understand that promoting a climate of intolerance precipitates an acid rain of intimidation and violence, which ultimately scalds everyone. India has had a long history of tolerant secularism since the days of Ashoka. We only have to nurture it by rising above the bitter memories of the past by propagating love and tolerance. Intellectuals must take the lead in this respect. That is the only glimmer of hope in the present scenario. Otherwise, we shall not be able to blame anyone else but ourselves.
