Secularism

Secularism, promoted by secularists, is the belief that religion should be a private, personal, voluntary affair that does not impose upon other people. Public spaces and officialdom should therefore be religion-neutral. Secularism ensures that religions are treated fairly and that no bias exists for a particular religion, and also that non-religious folk such as Humanists are treated with equal respect. It is the only democratic way to proceed in a globalized world where populations are free to choose their own, varied, religions.

The following is the content of my three main pages on secularism and secularisation:

1. Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?

1. What do Secular, Secularisation, and Secularisation Theory Mean?
2. Secularisation Theory
   1. The Causes of Secularisation
   2. The Dalai Lama Defends Secularism as a Way to Respect All Religion
   3. S. Bruce Defends Secularisation Theory (1996)
3. Religion in Europe
4. SeculariSation, or SeculariZation?
5. The Defiers of Secularisation
6. Secularisation in the non-Western World
7. Civil 'Religion' and Secularisation

2. Anti-Religious Forces: Specific Factors Fuelling Secularisation

1. Introduction
2. Anti-Religious Forces of the Present
   1. Modernism and Compartmentalism
   2. Individualism (Religion is Private, not Public)
   3. Multiculturalism
   4. Science
   5. Intelligence
   6. Human Rights
   7. The Internet
3. Anti-Religious Forces of History
   1. The Ancient Greeks
   2. Communism
   3. Christian Intolerance for Magic and Gods
4. People of Historical Importance
   1. Those Who Became Historical Movements: Nietzsche, Weber, Freud and Marx
   2. Outstanding Critics of Religion in the Modern Era
5. Blows to Religion According to Moojan Momen

3. Legislation and Faith: Religious Rights and Religious Wrongs

1. As Developed Society Outgrows Superstition, Religion Will Increasingly Contradict Common Morality
2. Abusive Religious Beliefs
3. The Benefits of Purely Secular Government
4. Muslims are Free to Follow Much of Sharia Without Needing Special Laws
5. Europe
   1. European Law and Values on Religion
   2. European Union and UK Law on Employment Discrimination
6. Example Conflicts in the United Kingdom
   1. Institutional Biases
      1. The Act of Settlement (1701-present)
      2. Bishops in the UK's Second Chamber (the House of Lords)
      3. Prayers in the House of Lords
      4. Accidental Bias: Cathedrals and National Heritage
   2. Christian Attempts to Exempt Themselves from Having to Treat Homosexuals Fairly
      1. Christian Institute Defends Two Sefton Council Workers (2003)
      2. Lillian Ladele, Registrar (Case 2005 - 2013)
      3. Gary McFarlane, Relate Counsellor (Case 2007 - 2013)
   3. Clothing Regulations Cases
      1. Nadia Eweida, British Airways (Case 2007 - 2013)
      2. Shirley Chaplin, Hospital Nurse (Case 2009 - 2013)
7. Example Conflicts
   1. Ritual Animal Slaughter
   2. Clothing and Dress Codes
   3. Displaying Religious Symbols on Classroom Walls in Ofena, Italy, 2003
   4. Other Examples
   5. Fetching Marriages and Muslim European Immigration
8. Conclusion

Links

• The National Secular Society on : www.secularism.org.uk. Try: What is Secularism?