Author: Dr. Fazl Ahmad Ahmadi
An Inquiry into Secularism (The Sixth and Final Part)
5. The Relationship Between Secularism and the Ideologies of the Modern Age
Political thought in the 20th century discusses and researches individual, group, collective, and sometimes autocratic forms of government, as well as popular governments. At the same time, political thought itself is a part of political philosophy. While political thought aims to find solutions to existing problems, it also examines the challenges facing society. For this reason, philosophy tends to be more stable, while political thought changes in response to emerging facts.
One significant point in explaining the concept of secularism is the macro view it presents. Secularism should not be confused with similar “isms” that appear in contemporary philosophical and social literature. Secularism is a comprehensive theory about morality and human happiness, but it is not a specific instruction regarding them. In other words, secularism is not a distinct ideology like other popular ideologies; rather, it is related to all of them. From a general perspective, if we measure the relationship between secularism and other ideologies, such as liberalism, communism, and other popular ‘isms,’ it becomes clear that secularism serves as a general cognitive framework that can be integrated practically with these various schools of thought.
Conclusion
In conclusion, several basic points can be highlighted:
1. Religious reforms not only changed the structure of Christianity in Europe but also significantly contributed to strengthening the intellectual and philosophical foundations of secularism. The roots of secularism can be traced back to the decline of the notion of the holiness of the Church and the Pope. The expansion of secularism was practically accompanied by the French Revolution and the subsequent weakening of the Church’s authority. The most significant effect of secularism has been the de-religionization of European society.
2. The overarching goals of secularism include:
– Removing religion from the fabric of society,
– Shifting people’s focus toward human issues,
– Preventing religion from becoming a social matter,
– Justifying behaviors based on human power rather than divine authority,
– Disposing of unseen forces from the material world and Desecrating them while placing rational and utilitarian principles at the forefront of decision-making.
3. Although some believe that secularism is not opposed to religion—at least in theory—it appears that the reality is quite different. Opposing religion is, in fact, one of the primary objectives of secularism; secularism derives its meaning largely from its opposition to religion.
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