Secularization: Characteristics, Causes and Effects | Sociology Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Secularization in Sociology

• Secularization in Sociology refers to the process by which a society shifts from being influenced by religion to becoming more independent and secular. The term "secular" is derived from the Latin word meaning 'present age or generation.' It was first defined by Brian Wilson in 1966 as the process through which religious beliefs, practices, and institutions lose their social significance.
• Before secularization, various aspects of human life, such as work, healing, social interactions, and legal procedures, were heavily influenced by supernatural beliefs. With the advent of secularism, these supernatural influences diminished, allowing areas like economy, justice, health, morality, education, and family to operate with greater autonomy.
  

M. N. Srinivas on Secularization

M. N. Srinivas offered his perspective on secularization, emphasizing two key aspects:

• Notion of Religion: Srinivas highlighted that secularization involves a shift in how society perceives religion. What was once considered religious is gradually losing its religious connotation.
• Differentiation of Institutions: Secularization, according to Srinivas, entails a process of differentiation where various aspects of society—such as economic, political, legal, and moral—become increasingly distinct from one another. However, he clarified that differentiation does not imply complete disconnection between these aspects.

Srinivas also noted that secularization as a process is often intertwined with Westernization, which is a broader concept.

Elements/Characteristics of Secularization

The elements or characteristics of secularization are shaped by certain principles:

• Separation of State and Religion: Secularization involves creating a distance between religious affairs and the functioning of the state. This separation helps in reducing the influence of religion on societal matters.
• Personalization of Religious Affairs: Secularization encourages individuals to personalize their religious practices, making them more individual-centric rather than communal.
• Rationalization: Secularization promotes the idea that individuals should make choices based on reason rather than blindly following traditions. It emphasizes the application of logic and wisdom over emotional attachments.
• Curiosity and Inquiry: Secular individuals have the right to question and inquire about the rituals and practices they follow. This curiosity is a fundamental aspect of secularization.
• Scientific Temper: Secularization is influenced by a scientific outlook that encourages individuals to question religious doctrines and practices. This scientific approach fosters a sense of agency and challenges the fatalistic views of the past.
• Modernization: Secularization, though a relatively recent development, is a response to the increasing intelligence and rationality of individuals in modern society. It reflects a shift away from religious symbols and practices in everyday decision-making.

Characteristics of Secularization

The characteristics of secularization include:

• Secular Meaning within Religion: Secularization allows for the interpretation of religious concepts in a secular context.
• Modification of Religious Doctrines: Religious doctrines and practices are adapted to meet the changing needs of society.
• Refraining from Involvement in Secular Affairs: Religious institutions and individuals are discouraged from interfering in educational, philanthropic, and healthcare activities.
• Rational and Reasonable: Secularization promotes rationality and reason over blind adherence to traditions.
• Freedom of Choice: Individuals are free to make choices based on reason and inquiry rather than following rituals blindly.
• Scientific Outlook: Secularization encourages a scientific approach that questions religious beliefs and practices.
• Influence of Modernization: Modern society has distanced itself from religious influences in everyday decision-making.

Causes and Effects of Secularisation in India

Secularisation in India has been influenced by various factors, leading to significant changes in society. Let's explore the causes of secularisation in detail.

1. Education

• Western Education: Western education played a crucial role in diminishing traditional Indian culture and promoting Western practices.
• Scientific Attitude: Modern education encouraged the younger generation to adopt a scientific approach to problem-solving, challenging traditional religious beliefs.
• Secular Marriage: Marriage practices shifted towards a secular attitude, moving away from solely religious ceremonies.

2. Transportation and Communication

• Telephones and Railways: The invention of telephones and railways facilitated interaction with people from different countries, leading to the exchange of ideas and the growth of liberal thoughts.
• Changing Views on Caste System: Transportation and communication advancements contributed to changing views on the caste system.

3. Reform Movements

• Religious and reform movements led by figures such as Keshav Chandra Sen, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, and Mahatma Gandhi played a significant role in promoting secularisation within the country.

4. Urbanisation

• Semi-developed and developed regions(such as metro cities) became more secular due to the influence of Western culture, education, transportation, communication, and economic challenges.
• Rural areas, on the other hand, have not yet fully embraced secularisation.

5. Legislation

• Various acts enacted by the British, such as the Widow Remarriage Act (1856), Caste Disabilities Removal Act (1850), and Special Marriage Act (1872), challenged orthodox beliefs of the time.
• Post-independence, the adoption of the Hindu Marriage Act (1955), Hindu Succession Act (1956), Hindu Widow Remarriage Act (1956), and Maintenance Act further contributed to the establishment of a secular society.

6. Western Culture

• Influence of Western Culture: Western culture significantly impacted India, emphasizing materialism, individualism, sensualism, non-religionism, and permissiveness.
• Political Discourse: Political parties and leaders increasingly adopted the language of secularism.
• Changes in Literature and Art: Western culture also influenced changes in literature and art, alongside religious transformations.

7. Indian Constitution

• Articles 27-30: These articles in the Constitution address the rights to freedom of religion, contributing to India's status as a secular state.
• Amended Preamble: The amended preamble of the Constitution declares India a secular country, ensuring equal rights for all citizens regardless of age, sex, caste, or creed.

Secularism in India

• India's secularism is characterized by a multi-religious society where the definition of religion is not fixed.
• According to Rajiv Bhargava, Indian secularism is not about strict separation of religion and politics but rather about principled distance between the two.
• Historically, Indian society has been tolerant of religious affairs, and modern secularism emerged in the 19th century as part of cultural and religious reform movements.
• Factors such as nationalism, the freedom struggle, and the spread of Western education contributed to the rise of secularism.

Different Views on Secularism

• Liberal Plural View: Modern nationalists before independence advocated for the separation of religion from other institutions and promoted religious pluralism.
• Orthodox Plural View: Figures like Gandhi, Dayanand Saraswati, and the Ramakrishna Mission believed Indian society was inherently secular due to its tolerance.
• Marxist View: Some interpreted secularism as the complete disappearance of religion.

Constitutional Framework

• India's constitutional and parliamentary democratic framework adopts a liberal plural view.
• The 42nd amendment to the Constitution, added in 1976, explicitly states that India is a secular country.
• There have been calls, such as the plea made to the Supreme Court in July 2020, to remove the terms "secular" and "socialist" from the preamble.

Secularism and Religious Freedom

• Secularism in India, as described by Nehru, does not discourage religion but promotes freedom of religion and conscience, including for those without religion.
• Secularism in India aims to address two major issues:
• Religious strife and communal violence between different religious communities.
• Ensuring that no single religious community dominates the state with its own view of the "good life" imposed on others.
• These issues became prominent in the second half of the 19th century.

Secularism as a Solution

• Indian secularism was conceptualized as an antidote to the problems of communalism and fundamentalism.
• It is not a result of a struggle between the Church and the State, as in Europe, but a response to communal and fundamentalist challenges.
• Indian secularism aligns more with "sarva dharma sambhava" than strict "dharm nirpekhsta".
• Articles 25-28 of the Constitution emphasize freedom of faith and religion rather than its exclusion.

Everyday Meaning of Secularism

• In everyday language, secularism is often understood as the opposite of communalism.
• A secular person or state does not favor any particular religion over others, opposing religious chauvinism.
• This sense of secularism implies equal respect for all religions, rather than strict separation or distancing from religion.
• For example, the secular Indian state observes public holidays for festivals of all religions.

Challenges to Indian Secularism

• Critics of the Western notion of secularism argue that the Indian state intrudes into religious spheres.
• The state supports various religious activities, such as Haj pilgrimages and managing shrines like Tirupati and Vaishnodevi.
• The challenge lies in balancing secularism and the protection of minorities.
• Protecting minorities requires special consideration to address disadvantages they face compared to the majority community.
• However, such protection can lead to accusations of favoritism or appeasement of minorities.

Religion and Culture in India

• According to Andre Beteille, people in India are more bound by culture than by the constitution.
• Religion in India is not just a belief system but is intertwined with dress, food, and mannerisms.
• As T.N. Madan noted, religion and secularism cannot be separated, and religion cannot be privatized in any meaningful sense.
• There is a distinction between de-jure secularism as envisioned in the constitution and de-facto secularism as practiced by society.

Conclusion

• Secularism is a fundamental aspect of all modern states and has significantly benefited people from various backgrounds by providing equal opportunities without discrimination based on caste, creed, or culture.
• Indian culture has evolved based on social movements and spiritual traditions, reflecting the principles of secularism.