The Problem of Secularism

The problem of secularism may firstly be considered as a matter of historical progression and can be equated with terms like evolution and civilization from thematic perspectives. Secondly, we need to understand secularism as a matter of degree not of kind. Finally, for practical reasons in transitional societies like ours, secularism as a way of life or secularism as political slogan may be objectively debated.

The Western civilization and life style at presents is leading all cultures and societies of the world. This is because of the fact that the West has been able to internalize the meanings of secular values after a thousand years of social and political experimentation and as a result of the intellectual and scientific developments that have been influencing all spheres of life ranging from individual freedoms to forming institutions like UNO for avoiding large scale destruction of human beings in wars. The concepts of freedom, human rights, and constitutionalism and liberal democracies are ethical choices which have been passing the test of time, improving and evolving along with capitalism; and  through more internal urges and even through a very visible desire to export the same to other parts of the world West is being able to have cultural influence on the world. It is no wonder that thousands of years of civilizations like China, India and Japan are fast adopting Western ways of life and many more countries and cultures of the world have been following despite all the odds of changing societies or polities. Thus secularism and human development have inherent relationship and it can be summed up as Capitalism plus social democracy.

This brings us to the second point of understanding secularism as a matter of degree and not of kind. Countries having higher living standards are relatively secular than countries having a low living standards or with poverty. Living standard is not solely measured in terms of economic development alone but better living standards also include personal freedoms and choices which are still denied in most wealthy Arab countries for example. It may be noted that oligarchies in Arab countries and especially Saudi Arabia have been using Islam as an easy way to sustain their power and the rulers themselves live luxurious lives and have assets and inspirations in Western countries. In China the communist party is only representing a semblance of socialism which has only been restricting several freedoms such as the freedom of religion and the capitalist’s economy is rapidly pushing the society towards Western ideals. In Pakistan a highly secular military and political lot have been supporting Islam due to their inefficiency to sustain a country through other modern means. Some article from the Indian constitution, reference to the British Queen holding the tile of the “Head of the Church of England or referring to US presidential oath are some other examples of the degree of secularism in developed or developing societies. We are yet to see to what extent a campaign for Burqa may be justified by equating it with a campaign for nudity. This is something the Western societies themselves to decide.

Finally, the core issue of secularism in our society or societies like ours is to be debated. Both secularism as a way of Western life-style and as political expediency to transform lives and ensure human well-being will take time as we are yet to join the pace of developing economies where capitalism and social democracy have been taking roots. We are still deeply entangled in the Cold-war politics of ideological confrontation and have not been able to enter the new global economic order of protecting corporation, attracting investments and promoting entrepreneurship. Such ideological confrontation has proved devastating in Egypt recently where state and society are at war and sections of society are siding with another for bringing more instability to their own societies.

When I say secularism as fundamentally a Western ideal, I do not deny the accumulated historical human wisdom of different cultures and even religions such as ancient Greek, Islam or Medina Charter. I am referring to the Western societies who championed the cause of secularism and no other society such as communism in Soviet Russia and China and Islamic society of Medina could provide a genuine parallel or alternative in the practical sense (a practical model and not some abstract ideal notions which are to be implemented).

Secularism has two main strands: Individualistic or societal and legal or statehood. On individual and societal level we may understand it as a matter of degree. Here we may refer to any society which derives inspiration from worldly and materialistic concerns as against superstitions, myths or anything called divine. Furthermore societies are evolving all the time and the divine and worldly are mostly mixed where human being are full of contradictions. However, such societies can be judged religious or secular (worldly here) from the degree of tolerance for diversity and creativity in any form. In our life I witnessed the steady decline of secular/ worldly values in our society due to more space religion (Islam of all hues but importantly Wahabi Islam) received for some very obvious reasons. Consequently, we may see more societal checks on individual privacy and so-called perversions, artistic expressions such music and check on women etc.

The problem of statehood with secular legislation is on the one hand intertwined with individualistic or societal secular/worldly choices, trends and passions while on the other hand statehood itself is the product of the evolution process when disorganized tribal structures were gradually transformed into more complex cultures and way of life and power found a central position for keeping some sort of taken-for-granted notions of stability or security. History shows us that superstition, mythology and religion provided the main framework for intellectual exercise to address insecurities of diseases, disasters and wars etc. Political authority in such cases was mostly justified on the ground of divinity or religion.  

States evolved differently in different parts of the world and many states can be put in different categories from evolutionary perspective.  However, Western model of state survived and passed the test of time not only against the oligarchies, theocracy and military autocracy but also against communism. This state structure with capitalism and democracy is in vogue which in ideal case is supposed to ensure Human Rights and economic well-being of the people. States might have their own internal dynamics like religious, social and culture ones and such dynamics will have their positive and negative influences in democracies but in the end the contradictions would possibly be replaced with more pro-people and worldly (secular) contractions of individuals competing for excellence and the state much more sensitive towards the marginalized.