Defining Secular

[poliphilo]

A secular society separates Church and State. It's a society in which the priests don't get to make the rules. That is all. Secular does not mean atheistical or irreligious or anti-clerical.  Religion flourishes in the western democracies- all of which are essentially secular. The USA- one of the most religious societies on earth- has a secular constitution. 

Comments

[sorenr.livejournal.com]

Well, technically speaking the Church of Denmark has never been disestablished, and church tax is still paid via the regular PAYE tax and collected via the Danish version of the IRS. The opening of parliament has a service in the palace chapel as one of it's highlights, and religions - including cultural religion - is very much a part of the national political discourse, perhaps because of the rather-too-prominent xenophobia.

Oh, and the Church of Denmark has the Queen as it's head, but is governed by parliament. So actually we're not really all that secular, given the intertwining of church and state. Our constitution (back in 1849) stated that the relationship between church and state should be finally determined in separate legislation, but as this has never happened... Well...

[ron-broxted.livejournal.com]

Same in Germany, Sweden, Norway?

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

Sweden celebrates certain religious days as national holidays. They also celebrate midsummer complete with pagan rituals. One could never say that Sweden is not religious.