What is Secularism?

Despite centuries of discrimination faced by Jews in Europe, the current state of Israel exhibits exclusionary practices against Arab minorities, both Christian and Muslim, denying them social, political, and economic benefits available to Jewish citizens. Similarly, subtle forms of discrimination persist against non-Christians in various parts of Europe. Concerns also arise regarding the condition of religious minorities in neighboring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh. These examples underscore the ongoing importance of secularism in today’s societies.

Within India, although the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to live with freedom and dignity anywhere in the country, various forms of exclusion and discrimination persist. Three stark examples illustrate this:

1. The 1984 massacre of more than 2,700 Sikhs in Delhi and other parts of the country, with many perpetrators remaining unpunished.
2. The forced displacement of several thousand Hindu Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley, preventing their return home for over two decades.
3. The post-Godhra riots in Gujarat in 2002, where more than 1,000 individuals, mostly Muslims, were massacred, leading to the inability of surviving family members to return to their villages.

These incidents share a common thread of discrimination, where members of one community are targeted and victimized based on their religious identity, denying them basic freedoms and rights. Some may even view these events as instances of religious persecution and inter-religious domination, highlighting the significance of secularism in opposing such forms of domination.

Secularism not only opposes inter-religious domination but also intra-religious domination. While religion serves as a response to human suffering and existential questions, it also poses deep-rooted problems, such as gender discrimination and intolerance towards dissent within religious communities. Thus, secularism challenges all forms of institutionalized religious domination, promoting freedom and equality both within and between religions.

In summary, secularism seeks to realize a society free from both inter-religious and intra-religious domination, promoting freedom within religions and equality among religious communities. Considering this framework, it’s essential to examine how a state committed to secularism should interact with religion and religious communities to achieve these goals.

In a world rife with examples of discrimination and exclusion based on religious identity, the concept of secularism emerges as a beacon of hope. From Israel’s treatment of Arab minorities to the plight of religious minorities in Europe, the importance of secularism in safeguarding individual freedoms and dignity remains paramount.