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

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

That's fascinating about Israel.

I don't think the possession of a national church prevents a society from being secular. The Anglican church in England has very little power and influence- and has been viewed with affectionate disdain for generations. It has never- even in its days of power- stopped us having spiritual experiences. We have a grand tradition of inventing religions and sects from The Society of Friends to Wicca.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

The thing is -- having a state religion allows, and encourages -- someone to define themselves by what they are NOT, rather than by what they ARE. But, yeah, that is a good point that England has come up with a fair number of non-Anglican religions of its own devising.

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

I don't think the possession of a national church prevents a society from being secular.

I think it's much more than that and agree with xiphias: in practice, a national religion kills religion. France is the most obvious example. Making Roman Catholicism the official state religion was the death of Roman influence in France.

Religious freedom in the US, however, is nominal, at best. Where I live, every meeting of the town council begins with prayer and a mass "Pledge of Allegiance". I actually feel discouraged from attending. It feels really awkward to dissent and refuse and I feel sullied by playing along, for the sake of appearances.