Secularism

Introduction:

“No private person has any right in any manner to prejudice another person in his civil enjoyments because he is of another church or religion”- John Locke.

Secularism is the principle that separates religion from human affairs, including politics. However, secularism has a broad meaning and cannot be defined by a single definition, as it varies across contexts.[1] However, we are looking at secularism, specifically political secularism, through the contemporary world’s lens, which has evolved beyond simply separating religion and government. It now emphasizes religious freedom, equality, human rights, and social harmony in increasingly diverse societies. The idea is that religious institutions and practices should neither receive special treatment nor interfere with public life.

Secularists find that when religion interferes in public decision-making, government affairs, and important matters, religious ideologies compel people to make decisions based on religious teachings rather than pragmatism. The belief is that since we live in religiously plural societies, where people of different faiths live together, adopting secularism is the best way to govern society. The model is that secularism defends the civil liberties of all, regardless of personal beliefs. Secularism fosters a society where individuals are free to practice their religions and express their beliefs, but where no single religion dominates or influences the government’s decisions and policies. It is the best chance we have to create a society in which people of all religions or none can live together fairly and peacefully. Secularism gives people the right to express their beliefs publicly, whether they belong to a religion or not.[2]

History:

One of the primary ways in which history has shaped ideas about secularism has been through the entanglement of Christianity and secularism.  Throughout history, we have seen rulers claim divine right. The king was chosen by God as his representative. Using religion to justify a monarch’s behavior while deeming people to a lesser rank.

Secularism cannot be talked about without including France and its history. French monarchs claimed to rule by the concept of “Divine right”, which was a doctrine asserting the legitimacy of royal authority because it was the will of the supreme deity. The French rulers used religion to justify the monarch’s abusive and coercive actions.[3] During the French Revolution, philosophers such as Voltaire and Rousseau based their politics on a precept of rule by reason rather than faith. Secularism rejected religious authoritarianism and any involvement of religious leaders in government. The French Revolution’s reduction of the political interference of the church and promotion of citizenship based on equality rather than religious status was the first big step towards secularism as we know it today.

Over the course of history, many countries have turned towards secularism. Taking religion out of government and decision-making. In 1789, the US Constitution prohibited Congress from establishing an official religion and protected the free exercise of religion. This is noted as one of the earliest constitutional models of religious freedom.[4]

Definition and Meaning:

The Enlightenment thinkers John Locke and Voltaire are known as the philosophers who have shaped modern secularism. Their principles, such as religious tolerance, individual liberty, and limited government, have collectively influenced the modern understanding of a secular state.

John Locke argued that the primary purpose of government is to protect the natural rights of individuals: life, liberty, and property. He believed that religious belief is a matter of individual conscience and cannot be imposed by the state. The government cannot force a collective religious ideology on people of different beliefs or force them to adhere to the laws of one religion.[5] Governments and laws should not be made based on religious texts or laws; rather, they should be made on the basis of reason.

Voltaire promoted the idea that the state should guarantee religious pluralism and freedom of expression, rather than privileging one religion.[6] He encouraged governments to adopt policies and laws based on reason and equal rights. He compared following a ruler claiming his decision was based on divine authority to what astrology is to astronomy, like a foolish daughter to a wise mother.[7]

Their ideas became the foundation of modern secularism, influencing constitutional democracies and the development of states that protect religious freedom while maintaining institutional neutrality towards religion. Together, both their works transformed political philosophy by arguing that governments should derive their legitimacy from reason, the consent of the governed, constitutional principles, and the protection of individual rights, rather than religious authority.

Key Features:

• Equality: Religious beliefs or lack of them do not put anyone at an advantage or disadvantage.
• Freedom: Being able to practice one’s religion or belief without harming others, or to change it or not have one, according to one’s own conscience.
• Separation: Government and political processes remain independent from religious authority.
• Rule of law: Secular legal frameworks supersede religious dogma or canon law in public governance.
• Democratic government: Secularism supports democracy by ensuring that political authority derives from the consent of the people rather than religious legitimacy. Public officials are accountable to the constitution and the electorate rather than to religious institutions.
• Evidence-based policymaking: Public policy is guided by the public interest, constitutional values, and empirical evidence.

Types of Secularism:

1. Political secularism: The separation of religion from government and political authority. The state does not derive its legitimacy from religion and does not allow religious institutions to control political decision-making. The main purpose is to prevent the religious domination of politics and to ensure equal treatment of all citizens, regardless of their faith.
2. Social secularism: This focuses on keeping religion separate from everyday social institutions and public life rather than only from politics. It encourages people to treat religion as a private matter instead of a public one. By emphasizing scientific education and eliminates religious education from public school curricula and workplaces, making policies without reference to religious doctrines.
3. Philosophical(ideological) secularism: It is an ideology that rejects religious explanations and argues that human reason and scientific knowledge should guide life. According to the author, it seeks to eliminate religion’s influence over human thought and behavior. The biggest example of this is atheism and atheistic worldviews.[8]

Significance:

The most important aspect of secularism is that it is considered essential to run a state democratically. Almost all countries in the world have more than one religion living in them. One of the groups will be in the majority, and likely is in state power. They could easily use this power and financial resources to discriminate against and persecute persons of other religions. This tyranny of the majority could easily result in discrimination, coercion, and at times even killing them.[9]

Advantages and Limitations:

Advantages:

Secularism also has numerous practical advantages.

• The happiest countries are secular liberal democracies.
• In general, radical extremists and religion-based bias are less
• No religious-based discrimination in the workplace, schools, and other institutions.
• Equal rights and religious freedom
• Encourages logic based on science, reason, and human rights.

Disadvantages:

• People argue that this can weaken traditional cultural and religious values in public spaces.
• It can lead to moral relativism without absolute spiritual guidelines
• Religious communities may feel their core values are sidelined or undervalued by the state.[10]
• Often states become extreme in their secular ideology, eliminating a person’s right to express their beliefs freely.

Case Studies:

1. Türkiye (1924): Under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate and the establishment of a constitutional secular state utilized a top-down approach, replacing legal religious codes with adapted European laws and placing religious institutions under state administration.[11]
2. India 1950: The 42^nd Amendment of 1976 of the Constitution asserted that India is a secular state. The Indian concept of secularism follows “Sarva Dharma Samabhava” (equal respect to all religions.[12] In India, the word secularism is used to mean impartiality or non-interference by the government in matters of religion.[13] India is a secular country, as there is no such thing as a state religion. The state shall not compel any religion to pay for the promotion of any particular religion or religious institution.[14]
3. France (Laïcité): France follows a strict form of secularism known as laïcité, which dates back to the time of the French Revolution. Laws prevent students and public employees from wearing conspicuous religious symbols in state schools and government offices. In 1905, a law was passed that officially cut state funding for religious groups.[15]
4. United States: According to the First Amendment of the US Constitution, there will be religious pluralism. The government cannot establish an official church, and it also cannot stop you from practicing your faith.[16] Individuals are free to practice and wear whatever they like.

Contemporary Relevance:

In the 21^st century, societies grow more and more modern and are becoming increasingly diverse in terms of religion, ethnicity, and culture. Secularism provides a framework for peaceful coexistence, protects individual freedoms, and ensures governments govern in the interest of all citizens rather than favoring a particular religion. A neutral state is better positioned to safeguard the rights of all citizens regardless of their faith. It allows education, scientific research, and public policy to be guided by evidence and reason. It supports the growth of medicine, technology, and other fields without religious interference. States can help women and minorities without the interference of religious doctrines. Limiting religious interference in political decisions ensures that no law or policy is made based on religious bias.

Conclusion:

Secularism is not a modern concept. It has existed for centuries, in different forms, ideas, and philosophies. Throughout history, we have seen how nations rebel against the interference of religious institutions in governance. As the world is progressing, secularism remains an essential principle for promoting democracy, equality, and human rights. It increases tolerance amongst people of different beliefs as they know the law and rights are equal for all. As societies continue to become more religiously and culturally diverse, its role in maintaining state neutrality becomes increasingly significant.

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[1] Reuters Staff. (2025, May 9). India File: India-Pakistan conflict escalates. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-file-india-pakistan-conflict-escalates-2025-05-09/

[2] National Secular Society. (2024). Secularism explained. In www.secularism.org.uk. https://www.secularism.org.uk/what-is-secularism

[3] Goldmeier, Harold, & Ed.D. (2025). Secularism | research starters | EBSCO Research. In EBSCO. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/religion-and-philosophy/secularism

[4] United States Senate. (n.d.). Constitution of the United States. In Senate.gov. Retrieved August 6, 2026, from https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution/constitution.htm

[5] Locke, J. (n.d.). A letter concerning toleration. A Letter Concerning Toleration. Retrieved August 6, 2026, from https://socserv2.mcmaster.ca/~econ/ugcm/3ll3/locke/toleration.pdf

[6] Voltarie. (n.d.). Treatise on tolerance voltaire 1763. Treatise on Tolerance. Retrieved August 6, 2026, from https://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/voltaire1763.pdf

[7] Hooker, R. (n.d.). Voltaire, a treatise on tolerance, 1763. In history.hanover.edu. Retrieved August 6, 2026, from https://history.hanover.edu/courses/excerpts/111voltaire.html

[8] Ashimi, T. (2021). IJRSI) |volume VIII, issue X. International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation. https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijrsi/digital-library/volume-8-issue-10/106-110.pdf

[9] Understanding Secularism. (n.d.-b). ALLEN Career Institute Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved https://allen.in/social-science/understanding-secularism

[10] Ali, H. (2021). Secularization: Types, advantages and disadvantages. Global Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 10(3), 1–002. https://www.internationalscholarsjournals.com/articles/secularization-types-advantages-and-disadvantages.pdf

[11] Six, C. (2022). Towards a transregional history of secularism: Intellectual connectivity, social reform, and state-building in South and Southeast Asia, 1918–1960. Theory and Society, 51(5), 761–790. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11186-022-09489-x

[12] Secularism History, Principles & Examples . (2023b). In Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/secularism-history-principles-examples.html

[13] admin. (2017). Secularism in India. In Indian Institute of Legal Studies Blog. https://www.iilsindia.com/blogs/secularism-in-india/

[14] Read. (n.d.-a). In Constitution of India. Retrieved August 7, 2026, from https://www.constitutionofindia.net/read/

[15] laicite.gouv.fr. (2021). Laïcité. In Laïcité. https://www.laicite.gouv.fr/quest-ce-que-laicite

[16] National Archives. (2025). The bill of rights: A transcription. In National Archives. The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript