Secularism Essay
Secularism In Canada
Karen Armstrong Religion
Secularism In Canada
Secularism And Secularism
Religion vs. Secularism
Secularism In Australia
Speech On Secularism
Secularism Essay: God Excluded from All Human Affairs
1. Secularism Essay
Secularism
The world today is filled with a variety of religions. Different religions cause conflict because of the
dissimilar beliefs as with secularism. Secularism is the indifference to or rejection or exclusion of
religion and religious considerations according to the dictionary. The religious civilization
acknowledges secularism as any movement in society directed away from the otherworldliness to
life on earth. No matter which way it is defined the main point is that God is excluded from all
human affairs. There is no God in secularism. It is just the world and nothing else. If there is some
form of a God, then it is perceived to be too far for our understanding. Modern cultures have
changed a lot in the world in which we stand,...show more content...
It is much easy to understand and believe secularism than to try to fathom or comprehend
something or someone that no one can see. Improvement of life by only material means, it is good
to seek and do good no matter what it is, and science is the existing Providence of man, are the
three most essential 'laws' of secularism that are to be followed.
The origination of secularism can be referred back to many well known names; as well as,
articles, magazines, and a variety of either publication. "The Counsellor", which was later
transformed into the "National Reformer"and"The Secular World and Social Economist, are just
some of the titles of these well known magazines. The articles would consist of anything from
secularization being taught in public education to the disestablishment of the church. Not only
could secularism be found anywhere, but some very famous philosophers are too connected to
this belief. Rene Descartes was a philosopher back in the early sixteen hundreds who based his
whole belief of the world on his own capacity to think. He was famous for the quote "I think,
therefore I am". He later took this saying and used it to apply to the existence of God and man.
Descartes way of thinking wiped out an entire era and started a new one. In addition to Descartes,
Charles Darwin
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2. Secularism In Canada
Although Canada is a multiculturalist nation practicing secularism, there are still struggles on
religious diversity in schools. Consequently, segregation of students' base on their religious beliefs
precedes typecasting, thus a division in social groups happens. Students when singled out from their
peers can have an adverse effect on their self–esteem, more importantly, when they have difficulties
adapting in a new and diverse school community. More likely when teachers ask students to say
some insights or overview about their religion, some students may cringe from getting too much
attention, hence making them feel uncomfortable. For that reason, handling issues of diversity with
sensitivity can make students feel safe and prone to learn
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3. Karen Armstrong Religion
Karen Armstrong is a woman with many experiences within the branches of religion throughout the
world. As mentioned in the interview, Armstrong has written numerous books, visited many
countries, and spent several years in a covenant as a nun. During the introduction, it is told that she
has "written a biography of Buddha and a short story of Islam." As the interview goes along she
expresses how she is not selective towards any religion as she recognizes the strengths and flaws
throughout each one. While she does show her support towards many religions, she also shows her
disapproval of certain religions as well. Karen Armstrong's focus throughout the interview is her
belief that religions are focused on compassion and ridding of egotism. While Armstrong does make
many valid points throughout her interview, there are also many aspects in which I disagree with
her. I disagree with her view on Secularism and her focus on...show more content...
The two positions she stated that I mainly disagreed with where her opinion on secularism and her
large focus on egotism. Armstrong mentions in the interview that "secularism has shown that it can
be just as murderous, just as lethal as religion." I disagree with her view on this as I feel during her
interview she shows many negative feeling towards secularism. During the interview, Armstrong
says that all the fundamentalist movements she's studied have shown that the religions are
convinced that "secular liberal society wants to wipe out religion, wants to wipe them out." In my
opinion, secularism is very beneficial for religions, especially in countries that allow citizens to
practice their religion of choice. The separation of church from state allows benefits to believers and
non–believers as they are both protected overall. Armstrong mainly expresses the negatives she has
seen but doesn't talk about the benefits this separation
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4. Secularism In Canada
On the international stage, Canada is often viewed as a secular and multicultural nation. Throughout
the history of the country, immigrants have come to Canada seeking a country which is accepting of
diversity in ethnicity, language, religion, and culture. Especially since the 1970s, when
multiculturalism was introduced by former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, thus becoming an
official policy of Canada, the diversity of the nation has increased greatly, (Wang & Handy, 2014, p.
1561). However, while Canada has become a more multicultural country as a whole, it has not
necessarily become more religiously pluralistic. In fact, it has been argued that Canada remains and
will continue to be an overwhelmingly Christian country and many immigrants...show more content...
Though Canada is officially a multicultural country, it has not resulted in complete religious
toleration or separation from Christian values and preference of the state. Through observation of
the ongoing, nationwide debate regarding sharia law, this can be seen. Since the early 2000s, a
common area of contention amongst Canadians has revolved around the debate of whether or not
Sharia law should be included in Ontario family tribunals. Sharia law is used to describe Islamic
law as according to the Qur'an. Some Canadian Muslims believed that the addition of sharia law
would help better integrate Canadian Muslims into society. While previously, other forms of
religious arbitration were permitted in Ontario, the attempt to include Sharia law in the early 2000s
played an vital role in the Ontario government's decision to ban all forms of religious arbitration,
(Reitz, Banergee, Phan, & Thompson, 2009, p. 700). Consequently, the Family Statue Law
Amendment was introduced in 2006 by the Ontario government in order to ensure that the was 'one
law for all'. This legislation effectively banned all faith–based arbitration by instituting that all family
law arbitration in the province would be conducted the same as it would be for any other Canadian,
(Berger, 2015, p. 52). Conversely, prior to this amendment, religious arbitration was permitted in
Ontario. However, when religious pluralism began
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5. Secularism And Secularism
Secularism and religion are always debatable issues. Secularism is the separation between religion
and other public fields. For some people, Islam is not compatible with secularism and it has
resistant to secularism (1). For Islamists, there are two distinction between religion and worldly
affairs. Religion rules enforce to worldly affairs (2). So religion cannot separate from other public
fields because there is link between religion and other public fields.
Secularists are apostates from Islam and unbeliever for Islamists. Moreover, secularists are spreading
unbelief into Muslim society in Islamic countries and they are the agents of Western powers who try
to change culture of Muslim society. For secularists, secularism is necessary for modernization
...show more content...
Muhammad Imara divided secularists two category. First group is the extremists. They are minority
and they reject religion entirely. The second group is the moderates and they are majority. The
moderates believe in God and they do not fight against religion, even some of them fulfil religious
obligations and duties. On the other hand, they support separation of religion and state (16). Imara
did not refused secularization because secularization imported from the West. The main reason is
that Christians examine their conditions and reached secularization. According to Imara, Muslims
should examine Islamic religion conditions to reach their own secularization. Muslims need to use
same way to create their own process (19). Islam and secularism are two different ideologies for
Imara. Public interests are more important than self–interests for Islam. Worldly affairs is not
important for Islam. On the other hand, secularism is pragmatic and it gives priority to self–interest
so Islam and secularism are not compatible. Secular societies support change and innovation but
Islam also does that too for Imara. Muslims do not need secularization for inspiration
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6. Religion vs. Secularism
Religion and Secular Public Policy
The relationship that never worked
In the American presidential election of 2004, faith–based policies and issues of religion were at the
center of the controversy. With his religious stances on abortion, gay marriage, and faith–based
education, as well as his campaign's success in painting him as a man of religious conviction,
President George W. Bush commanded the pious, Christian population, which appeared in great
numbers at the polls. Senator John Kerry's campaign, alternatively, painted its candidate as an
intellectual, academic politician. The senator appealed to the more secular and intellectual
population that, in the end, proved less populous than the pro–Bush voters. Though it is difficult to
...show more content...
A pre–election trip across the Arkansas countryside is all it takes to see evidence of religion's
coupling with politics. Removable letters outside a church in Conway, AR displayed not the usual
reminders of church services, but instead reminded voters that "a vote for Bush is a vote for
God."4 Because most truly religious people hold allegiances to things higher than their countries,
such as the Vatican or God Himself (the laws of God are above the laws of Man), religion itself
has a blinding effect for these people who also hold the right to vote. This church, clearly favoring
the President, employed guilt tripping as a tactic to bolster the Republican vote in the area. Religion
tends to define the lines between issues: it tells its followers what to believe. Such messages,
whether literally displayed on church lawns or subliminally implanted in campaign advertisements
and speeches, do not call the legality of religion in politics into question (this discussion is not about
the separation of church and state) but instead call into question the ethics of casting a vote in the
political arena based on a belief held in the religious arena. The problem with the relationship
between secular politics and religion is that it is entirely unnatural: the two institutions are both
necessary and both omnipresent. Religion and public policy are two
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7. Secularism In Australia
Good morning, I'm Zodie Bolic, a Christian Research officer with the Christian Research
Association, here to present my findings on growing trends of the secularism in Australia and their
effects on religion and related rituals in contemporary Australian society. During my time
researching this topic, I have discovered many insights through the use of surveys, interviews and
online research. As a result, I have found that secularism is growing rapidly, due to the effects of
science, multiculturalism and commercialism.
Religion in Australia has continually evolved since the beginning of the country's existence
(Reference). Originally, the traditional owners of Australia, Indigenous Australians, believed in the
Dreamtime, and the idea that the...show more content...
The most popular rituals of Easter and Christmas are probably the most changed. Originally, Easter
celebrated the resurrection of Christ, with Good Friday being a day of solemn reflection (Q1c).
However, in today's society, Easter has become more about the chocolate – Easter eggs and Easter
bunnies have seemingly become common place in every household in contemporary Australia. Hot
Cross Buns are big as well, with them being sold in every grocery store as soon as Christmas ends.
In today's society, Easter is celebrated by seemingly everyone, instead of just Christians, as it was in
the past. Like Easter, Christmas has also become more secular, with the majority of Australians
celebrating Christmas, even if they are from another faith group, or have no religion (Q1b). Social
researcher Mark McCrindle writes that Christmas is unique in the Australian Calendar as it
'simultaneouslygathers familiesandthebroadercommunityin celebration' (Q1b). Often, religious
citizens will celebrate Christmas by attending mass and praying, with 1 in 5 Australians 'definitely'
attended a service (Q1b). Although, secular celebrations of Christmas have become more popular
everywhere – these include Christmas trees and giving gifts. However, in more recent times, debate
has occurred over whether Christmas should be celebrated in public places, for example,
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8. Speech On Secularism
It cannot be denied that in a multicultural and a multifarious religious state, secularism cannot be
given any precise definition. It is a tool in the hands of the State to use it judiciously for the
promotion of inter–communal peace and harmony, and to ensure, depending on the peculiarities of
each case, that all the communities receive equal treatment.
India waited another twenty–seven years to enshrine secularism as one of the objectives of the
nation. On 1 September 1976, through the 42nd Amendment Act, passed during an internal
emergency, the words "secular" and "socialist were formally added to the preamble of the
Constitution. Then proposed constitutional changes can be considered under the following heads: (i)
Amendability of the Constitution; (ii) Fundamental Rights; (iii) Directive Principles...show more
content...
R. Gokhale, made a lengthy speech on its far–reachingconsequences. Yet about secularism and its
introduction in the preamble of the Constitution, this was 'all he had to say:
"(T)he objectives which we had always in view, namely, socialism and secularism, which we have
tried to implement, will be more and more implemented and will be more accurately and correctly
reflected in a basic part of our Constitution, namely, the Preamble. Let anyone say that "socialism" or
"secularism" is incapable of definition (sic)."
Well, in order to accept that argument of the Law Minister , one may say that "democracy" in that
sense is also incapable of definition because, it is understood in different ways in different countries.
But, there is consensus on the way we practice democracy. In the same way, the meanings of the
words "socialism" and "secularism" are well understood and embedded in the Constitution. Thus, all
the argument seems futile but the main objective of the amendment to the Preamble was a very
important and fundamental feature of the Amendment
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