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The western worlds understanding of secularism
Effects of secularization on society
Essay on secularism
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Secularism creates a fundamental framework promoting equality and unity for every individual in society. It seeks protection for beliefs and practises, whether religious or not. In spite of such, this method constructs guidelines for people to live together in peace and fairness. However how does secularism exist in society? Everyone in a secular society has the right to access public services; providing secular service and ensuring that people are not denied accessed or underprivileged. In addition, anyone has the absolute freedom to practise or convert to any religion they desire. No specific religion can receive any advantages or disadvantages nor can be discriminated. That is what secularism teaches, it a law that promotes equality between the believer and the non-believer; everyone has the same rights and obligations. It seems a like an effective aspect in society nevertheless it can cause conflicts. Secularism is a challenge for some individuals who cannot express their religious symbol, therefore not fulfilling their spiritual duties. Furthermore, it is a widespread fact that discrimination still exist even in today’s era, whether they are indirect slurs or a blunt actions, prejudice stills happens in secular societies. Religions such as Sikhism and Islam share similar attributes in the sense of discrimination. Both faiths wear a type of headwear, however for totally different motives; nevertheless they are the main targets for a lot of setbacks and judgment in society. Throughout this paper, it shall discuss the conflict regarding the exclusion of individuals who wear turbans on soccer teams, and the law concerning the prohibition of the hijab in government faculties. Despite the dissimilarity between the two fa...
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...society. Whether the exclusion of Sikhs wearing turbans on soccer teams, or the conflict regarding the prohibition of hijabs for Muslim; both challenges are faced in Quebec and are equally discriminatory towards people. Some of the challenges have been solved, while others are improving within a matter of time. However, the attitude approached towards the conflict displays the individual’s tolerance and spiritual strength. Everyone should be able to express their religion publically without the fear of losing one’s job or getting eliminated from a sports team. If those rights or any rights in that matter are violated then people of the community should take a stand regardless of different faith, culture, or race. One does not need to be a person of authority to comprehend that discrimination and racism is wrong all that is needed is a heart and a sense of humanity.
This case in particular is very important to all Canadians everywhere because it demonstrated the possibility of racial discrimination to occur till this very day. Even though the Crown was not able to clearly declare whether the people from Roma was what the Neo-Nazis were referring to as “Gypsies”. Also this case provides that even though there was only an accusation towards the Neo-Nazis because of the wilful promotion, the government will take matters into consideration and arrest the people who are suspected of taking part in this situation. In addition, it shows how the government will not tolerate any sort of discrimination or racism against any identifiable and/or minority group.
The article “My Body Is My Own Business” by Naheed Mustafa is about an Islamic women’s principle that putting on her usual headscarf, or Hijab, actually empowers her as a female, contrary to the popular principle that the hijab represents male oppressiveness. She ex...
For some women wearing a veil is not something that is forced on them but rather a choice of their own. Martha Nussbaum and Maysan Haydar are both authors that try to explain their reasoning that veiling isn't an oppressive tool used against women. Martha Nussbaum's article “Veiled Threats”, is a political and philosophical take on why banning the burqa is a violation of human rights. On the other hand Maysan Haydar’s article “Don’t Judge a Muslim Girl by Her Covering”, is a more humorous and personal take on why veiling shouldn't be as judged or stereotyped. Though Nussbaum and Haydar have equal goals this essay is being used to understand the main argument, claims and whether or not each article has any weaknesses.
For more than a century, the concept of secularism and its boundaries has been widely disputed by secularists and non-secularists alike. English dictionaries define secularism as simply the separation of church and state, or, the separation of religion and politics. Michael Walzer, a true secularist, believes that this separation is an essential democratic value and ultimately fosters toleration of a plurality of religions (Walzer, p. 620). Wæver, an opponent of secularism, defines secularism as “a doctrine for how society ought to be designed”– that religion and politics ought to be divided in order to ensure religious liberty, as well as religious-free politics. However, he does not deem that such a principle exists (Wæver, p. 210). Based on these different viewpoints, I have established a unique concept of secularism: the principle that religion and politics be kept apart, that the state remains neutral in regard to religion, and that liberty, equality, and fraternity be upheld in an attempt to successfully promote religious toleration and pluralism.
Shirley A. Fedorak, Anthropology Matters, University of Toronto Press, 2012, 236 pages. Joseph H. Carens, Culture, Citizenship and Community: A Contextual Exploration of Justice as Evenhandedness, Oxford University Press, 2000, 284 pages. M.O. Dickerson, Thomas Flanagan, Brenda O'Neil, An Introduction to Government and Politics: A Conceptual Approach, Cengage Learning, 2009, 565 pages. Ramesh Chandra, Minority: Social and Political Conflict, Volume 3, Gyan Publishing House, 2004, 308 pages. Richard Moon (editor), Law and Religious Pluralism in Canada, UBC Press, 2008, 309 pages.
The First Amendment’s Free Exercise and Establishment clauses guarantee the freedom of religion. Allowance of this fundamental human right creates a clear barrier between life in America and life in illiberal nations like Iran and France. After the revolution in 1979, Iran turned into an Islamic state (“The Veil of Oppression”). Religion police adopted radical dress codes for the public and there wer...
Vincent Massey (Governor General of Canada) once said,“Canada is not a melting-pot. Canada is an association of people who have, and cherish, great differences, but who work together because they can respect themselves and each other.” In other words, he describes how Canada is a very diverse place and how we should work together despite our differences in religion. Immigration poses opportunities for citizenship: for building a society in which all Canadians belong. Although, to what extent should immigrants continue to promote culture and religion? Some may argue that we need to put restrictions on promoting religion like the code adopted in Hérouxville; which forbade women from being stoned alive
The beliefs and claims of secularism is “a form of opinion which concerns itself only with questions, the issues of which can be tested by the experience of this life. More explicitly, secularism is that which seeks the development of the physical, moral, and intellectual nature of man to the highest possible point, as the immediate duty of life – which selects as its methods of procedure the promotion o...
It is without a doubt that Canada is considered one of the most welcoming and peaceful countries in the entire world. Individuals fleeing conflicts from different continents, on opposites sides of the planet, view Canada as a safe haven, a place to thrive, succeed, and safely live life to its fullest potential. Excellent healthcare, education, and proper gun control are just some of the many priviledges freely given to those who are lucky enough to call Canada their home. The Rights and Freedoms of Canadians are incomparable to those of individuals living in other countries, and with freedom of religion being one of them, it becomes crucial that we respect and show acceptance of different religions. However, it is saddening to see that in
... presence of religious diversity amongst the multiculturalist scene, multiculturalism and its relationships to ethnocultureal minorities, Quebec’s reasonable accommodation as well as the overlap of Aboriginal and multiculturalism issues, require research and development. This speak volumes about Banting and Kymlicka, as it places their work on a larger spectrum that will one day be surrounded by other impressive works that may compliment or challenge their findings. Canadian multiculturalism is completely different than what takes place in different countries. It goes without saying that not every picture can be painted with the same type of brush because the world is not full of the same picture that has a white washed idealized understanding. With that being said, the problems in other countries are not inherent to the multiculturalism picture in other countries.
There are many different views towards Muslim choice of clothing especially wearing the veil. “I wear it believing it is necessary, but someone else can be wearing it believing that she is doing something extra” said Hamna Ahmed. One of the many reasons a Muslim can be wearing the veil are their own personal decisions too. Hamna has been wearing it for seven years now, despite her mother and three of her four sisters staying uncovered. Socially this causes an issue with the meaning of the veil and conflict with other groups. With many different consumptions of religion, what it means, what is considered to be practicing and what is not can lead to negative misunderstandings. Ultimately the decisions are up to the individuals although; there is likely to be misinterpretation between the meaningfulness of religion to family and society. On an even bigger scale of things this could also impact society and it...
Most of these things it is possible to see through the analysis of the situation that exists in practice and analysis of several court cases. In France, for years women with Hijab encounter problems, both in education and in ...
The power and the order of the common customs can not bring human beings with the inner peace. As a mysterious power , religion can solve the problem which can not be solved by the science and technology. When the science and knowledge can not explain all the confusion in this world, religion came in. Religion has the significant function that it can provide the importance of life and eliminate the resentment . It offer the sense of security for the people who lived in poverty or lived confusedly. Religion deifies some value and religious doctrine which can control the desire and impulsion from people’s heart.
The hijab is a very important and powerful Muslim symbol that is worn by billions of Muslim women all over the world. Many wear the hijab as a symbol of faith, while others wear it to protect themselves from society’s expectations of women. Some people think that banning the use of the hijab in public is a violation of freedom of religion and freedom of expression. However, others think the banning of the hijab is a necessary precaution. The wearing of the Muslim hijab should be banned in public because it is impractical, Muslims use it to separate themselves from society, and it is a security risk.
Discrimination based on or derived from religion has been a cause of significant suffering. Prejudice directed against people based on their religious beliefs, practice, identification or association has resulted in a wide range of discriminatory practices. Prejudice and discrimination based on religion continue to be problems even in countries that otherwise has achieved a high level of religious diversity. Prejudice based on religion has been used to justify discrimination against those with different religious beliefs, individuals of various ethnicities, those who are not exclus...