NCERT Class 8 Political Science Chapter 2: Understanding Secularism YouTube Lecture Handouts
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NCERT Class 8 Political Science Chapter 2: Understanding Secularism
Response to Discrimination
- In form of retaliation – feeling of revenge
- No discrimination should exist
World Examples
- Discrimination: Non-Muslims not allowed to build temples and churches in Saudi Arabia
- Exclusion: Jewish state of Israel treats its own Muslim and Christian minorities quite badly
- Persecution: Jews persecuted in Hitler՚s Germany
Discrimination strengthens at expense state (as one religion is given official recognition)
India – Secular State
- Individuals have freedom to live by their religious beliefs and practices as they interpret these
- Separate power of religion and power of state
- Separation is important in order to protect minorities
- Tyranny of majority may lead to discrimination, coercion and even killing of religious minorities
- Protect freedom of individuals to exit from their religion, embrace another religion or have freedom to interpret religious teachings differently
- Dominant religions might face resistance from community members
Indian Secularism
- One religious community does not dominate another
- Some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community
- State does not enforce any religion nor take away the religious freedom of individuals
- Indian State distance itself from religion
- Government spaces are not allowed to promote any one religion
- Government schools cannot promote any one religion either in their morning prayers or through religious celebrations (private schools exempted)
- Follow policy of non-interference - in order to respect sentiments of all religions and not interfere with religious practices, State makes certain exceptions for religious communities (Sikh wearing pugri not fined for helmet)
- Follow strategy of intervention – state intervenes for preventing untouchability & in case fundamental rights of lower caste are violated.
- Intervention can be in form of support – right to set up own schools and give financial aid
USA - Secularism
- First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution prohibits the legislature from making laws “respecting an establishment of religion” or that “prohibit the free exercise of religion.”
- Establishment: legislature cannot declare any religion as the official religion & nor can they give preference to one religion
- US government schools recite “Pledge of Allegiance” which includes word “Under God” – not recite if it conflicts with religious beliefs
- Neither the State nor religion can interfere in the affairs of one another in USA (In India, state can intervene)
France
- February 2004: Law passed that banned students from wearing any conspicuous religious or political signs or symbols such as the Islamic headscarf, the Jewish skullcap, or large Christian crosses.
- Resistance came from immigrants mainly from former French colonies of Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco.
- In 1960s: France faced shortage of workers
✍ Mayank