Secularism and Religion
HIS104: World Civilizations II
Stefanie Wyszynski
January 3rd, 2013
The subject of religion is considered by many to be one of the most controversial, never-ending topics of discussion that exists. Secularism is also an arguably endless topic of debate and the two seem to usually go hand-in-hand. Although virtually opposite by definition, the correlations within the aspects of contrast and comparison make for a unified subject. How far back does the secular facet of the theme go? Is the separation of Church and State something that was widely desired and accepted? What are the current effects of Secularism? Amongst many others, the answers to these questions are important to the explanation and debate of Secularism and the effects of religion and the following writings shall depict as such.
As common knowledge has it, most religions started in the beginning of time. There are beliefs that include worship towards a God, Goddess, or even multiple Gods in some cases. Some even believe in animals as higher powers. Whether this is the case or otherwise, the human race has been given the right to choose, praise, and worship since the beginning; but throughout existence there have also been many struggles and complications along the way impeding this freedom.
One example of this lack of freedom is portrayed in a document that was written in England, in1689, that was titled The Toleration Act. A portion of it explains the “oaths” one had to take in order to avoid persecution and prosecution. It reads, “That every such person shall make and subscribe the aforesaid declaration, and also this declaration of fidelity following, viz.
The Research paper on Religion – Kottak
... founded. Religious trends in contemporary North America include rising secularism and new religions, some inspired by science and technology, some by spiritism. ... religious trends include both rising secularism and a resurgence of religious fundamentalism. Some of today’s new religions are inspired by science and ...
I A. B. do sincerely promise and solemnly declare before God and the world, that I will be true and faithful to King William and Queen Mary; and I do solemnly profess and declare, that I do from my heart abhor, detest, and renounce, as impious and heretical, that damnable doctrine and position, That princes excommunicated or deprived by the Pope, or any authority of the See of Rome, may be deposed or murdered by their subjects, or any other whatsoever. And I do declare, that no foreign prince, person, prelate, state, or potentate, hath or ought to have, any power, jurisdiction, superiority, pre-eminence, or authority ecclesiastical or spiritual within this realm.
And shall subscribe a profession of their Christian belief in these words:
I A. B. profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His eternal Son, the true God, and in the Holy Spirit, one God blessed for evermore, and do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration.
Which declarations and subscription shall be made and entered of record at the general quarter-sessions of the peace for the county, city, or place where every such person shall then reside. And every such person that shall make and subscribe the two declarations and profession aforesaid, being thereunto required, shall be exempted from all the pains and penalties of all and every the aforementioned statutes made against popish recusants, or Protestant nonconformists…” (England, 1689).
For those who did not abide, there were penalties of fines, removal of personal property including land, and for some, imprisonment.
Although this is just one example of the lack of separation of Church and State, as it has become customary to see the opposite of in places like the present day United States of America, the true first divisions had occurred much earlier around the times of the age of Enlightenment. In the early 1500’s, “a German monk named Martin Luther (1483–1546) initiated what later became known as the Protestant Reformation by publicly challenging inconsistencies and abuses within the Roman Catholic Church. Based on his own study of the Bible, Luther concluded that faith alone was necessary for salvation and that the Bible was the sole authority on Christian faith.” (Getz & Brooke, 2012).
The Essay on Martin Luther Church God Machiavelli
Both leaders of their generations, Martin Luther and Niccolo Machiavelli were also religious and political icons. Through their theses, essays, and books they were able to successfully convey their views to the public. Martin Luther was a lawyer turned priest, who tried to open the eyes of the public to the general corruption of the Catholic Church. His 95 theses were the foundation of the ...
“Luther was not anxious for the Church to abandon the secular kingdom, but rather that it would stop jealously reaching for the power of the state while neglecting its own duties. At the same time, the state must focus on restraining injustice and chaos instead of attempting to set church doctrine or punish heretics. The bottom line is that Luther called for the church to be the church and the state to be the state. The point is not that they should ignore each other and exist in isolation, but rather that they should fulfill the purposes God sets before them.” (Baker, 2007).
His persistence and devotion to his cause later led to further actions by many powerful people who additionally became leaders in the battle to obtain the freedoms of dividing religion and rule.
In modern day US, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, the factually based truth is that the separation of Church and State is part of the country’s structure. Oddly enough, there are still religious based underlying requirements for representatives of political office. As Peter Ellway stated in his article written pertaining to the Rational Choice Theory and its relationship to the Secularization Thesis, in 2005, “It is commonly agreed that all candidates for high office in the US need to demonstrate some religious allegiance. Yet the USA explicitly separates church and state, unlike many other countries that retain an established religion.” (Ellway, 2005).
Also well defined by Ellway is the explanation of Rational Choice. “Its main propositions are that religious choice is or should be a rational activity because of the Compensator concept, that there is therefore a constant potential human demand for religious goods over time and between societies, but that the supply of these religious goods varies: it is this variation which explains the levels of religious vitality in different societies, and the more varied the supply of religious goods, ie the greater the religious diversity, the better for religious vitality is pretty well understood.” (Ellway, 2005).
The Protestant Reformation was the main cause of Secularization; the two, although seemingly different, are correlated in the sense that the desire for form can be based off of conclusions from either side.
The Essay on Religion Society
The fact that religion seems to have continually played an important role in every known society should highlight the idea that religion serves some sort of purpose. The various sociological explanations of this purpose are what the key is. role of religion in society is definitely a dynamic one. The relationship between both religion and society is always changing. Religion affects different ...
Secularism is defined as religious skepticism or indifference wherein religious considerations should be excluded from civil affairs. In today’s society it is not recognized as an issue in the United states whereas in many countries on the other side of the world it is still in question. Three examples of states in the West that are supposed to be liberal, democratic and secular are France, Britain and inclusively the United States. France is a state that is secular and a society which is secular. In England, you have an established religion and you have a very secular society. In the United States, you have a very religious society and a secular state. There are different ways in which the negotiation between religion and politics works itself out. There are different kinds of reactions that people have towards what is a transgression against secular principles. (Asad, 2003).
Religion has been a part of society and life in general since life has had societies. It is not just defined as churches and clergy but a way of life for many, equally daily as well as politically and all decisions in between. Secularism is in common day defined more modernly as a philosophy and nature that should be applied to societal means and expectations utilizing rationale and non-religious basis. “At the root of secularism is the principle that the society should be founded on principles devised by rational inquiry into the universal nature of human social life.” (Jahagirdar, 2000).
Both are used to rule in some way or another in various parts of the world still today. As exemplified in the above writings, Religion has worked well at times and at others not. Arguably, Secularism has too been implemented throughout time and in some cases worked well and in others is still a conflicting affair. There are many beliefs, thoughts, and desires driving secularism as strongly as religion has, and does, and as we progress we will continue to see the effects and the movement of modernity change the way we have been, have been accustomed to, and desire to be. Potentially for the better, perhaps not necessarily.. the future will tell. As we all know, History repeats itself, and now as we are better prepared hopefully we can overcome the negative and embrace what we can moving towards betterment.
The Essay on World State Religion Science God
In Brave New World science, religion and political power take on different meanings than what we are used to today. In the World State, science is feared because it requires original ideas and independent thought, which threaten the stability that is so important to maintaining the lives of the citizens. At the same time it is science that directly effects the religion that is embraced by the ...
England. (1689).
Toleration Act. Retrieved from
Http://www.jacobite.ca/documents/1689toleration.htm
Jahagirdar, J. R .A. (2000).
Secularism Revisited. Retrieved from
http://www.iheu.org/node/295
Asad, T. (2003).
Islam, Secularism and the Modern State. Stanford University Press. Retrieved from http://asiasociety.org/countries/religions-philosophies/islam-secularism-and-modern-state
Baker, T. H. (2007).
Christianity, secularism, and America: an exploration and critique of the historical, legal, social, and philosophical implications of secularism from an American. Retrieved from
http://www.academia.edu/574709/Christianity_secularism_and_America_an_exploration_an d_critique_of_the_historical_legal_social_and_ohilosophical_implications_of_secularism _from_an_ American_
Ellway, P. (2005).
Shopping for Faith or Dropping Your Faith?. ProQuest. Retrieved from
http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/religion/overview.php
Getz, T. R., Brookes, J. E. (2012).
In World History: The Human Experience from 1500. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUHIS104.12.1/sections/sec3.1
