Secularism: Difference between revisions

'''Secularism''' believes in separating the church from the state or the state from the church it has become dominant throughout the world with only a handful of exceptions over the last century. Secularism started from opposition to how powerful [[File:Catheo.png]] [[Catholic Theocracy]] was in many European countries, as it operated a European wide welfare system while also serving, in a sense, the highest court in Europe that all kings and dukes would adhere to. It was because of the power of the clergy that led to extreme levels of corruption in the church and within kingdoms which caused the [[File:ProtTheo.png]] [[Protestant Theocracy|Protestant Reformation]] this was the first major [[File:CapAnti Clerical.png]] Anti-Clerical movement since the establishment of a [[File:Christy.png]] [[Christian Theocracy]] throughout the continent. Although [[File:ProtTheo.png]] [[Protestant Theocracy|Protestants]] were still intense Christians and believed in strict adherence to the bible their push against clerical power and influence allowed for stronger forms of secularism to raise in popularity.

===[[File:Cball-USA.png]] United States of America===

The [[File:AmericanModel.png]] [[American Model]] was the first in the world to endorse a full separation between the church and state, although this was never mentioned in the constitution, however this was to protect churches from being limited or restricted by the state rather than rid religious influence from the state. It began, however, within the Colonial era of America where, in 1636, Roger Williams established a settlement in Rhode Island. This settlement permitted total religious freedom. This, along with the later enlightenment philosophers such as John Locke, would go on to heavily influence the founding fathers of the United States.

===[[File:Cball-France.png]] France===

[[File:Cball-France.png]] France would be the next country to adopt a secular model under [[File:Jacobin.png]] [[Jacobinism]] however this differed from the American version of protecting the church from the state instead prohibiting it entirely to remove Catholicism from the French culture entirely although their secularism was undermined by the government's support for the cult of Reason. Secularism or Theocracy would be a constant battle in France from the fall of Empire in 1815 until the passage of "Laïcité" in 1905. Laïcité originally represented the victory of anti-clerical republicanism, which, ever since the French Revolution of 1789, had stigmatised the Roman Catholic Church as a bastion of reaction, ignorance and superstition. In concrete terms, the 1905 law dramatically limited the power of the Church by enshrining three key principles: strict separation of Church and State, freedom of conscience and freedom to exercise any faith.

===[[File:Cball-UK.png]] United Kingdom===

The [[File:Cball-UK.png]] United Kingdom also implemented a secularism model, although one could argue that the UK is still [[File:Anglican Theocracyf.png]] [[Protestant Theocracy|Anglican Theocracy]] due to Anglican bishops having guaranteed votes on every bill in the House of Lords, however their power has been significantly limited and their have been protections especially for Atheists, with the passage of the New Oaths Act (1886), and Catholics, with Catholic Emancipation in 1828.

==Beliefs==

Secularism is most commonly defined as the separation of religion from civic affairs and the state and may be broadened to a similar position seeking to remove or to minimize the role of religion in any public sphere. The term "secularism" has a broad range of meanings, and in the most schematic, may encapsulate any stance that promotes the secular in any given context. Secularism is opposed to both state atheism and theocratic rule, since it regards people's rights to practice their religious beliefs freely, both of these governmental systems are opposed to secularism since they try to force beliefs onto people.

===[[File:CapAnti Clerical.png]] Anti-Clericalism===

'''Anti-Clericalism''' is a form of secularism that shows opposition to religious authority in social and political matters. This differs from normal secularism in the sense that Anti-Clericalism regards religious authority as harmful and something that should be opposed while Secularism takes a neutral stance on religion. Anti-Clericalism has been practiced commonly under state atheist countries but also has been practiced under Anarchists who have been historically hostile to religious authority because they see it as another source of oppression like the state. Although not everyone who is anti-clerical is anti-religious, anti-clericalism has its roots in religious people protesting against religious authority like under the protestant reformation, but also under the French Revolution where the clerics were murdered. So, the reasons of why and who is opposing religious authority are different for each context.

====[[File:CulturalSecularism.png]] Cultural Secularism====

'''Cultural Secularism''', also called '''Cultural Lacisim''', is used to denote a society which has undergone secularization and its institutions shift from religious principles to secular principles. It could also mean someone who supports secularization of society and opposes organized religion for one reason or another. It could also be used to refer to the secular movement, which is a movement that promotes [[File:CultLib.png]] {{PCBA|Cultural Liberalism|culturally liberal values}} such as [[File:Gay.png]] {{PCBA|LGBTism|LGBT rights}} and [[File:Abort.png]] {{PCBA|Abortionism|abortion}} due to the [[File:Christianright.png]] {{PCBA|Christian Conservatism|religious right's}} opposition towards such.