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Pseudo-secularism is the state of implicit non-secular trends in the face of pledged secularism. The term is used by groups who perceive a double standard exhibited within the established secular governing policy towards culturally different groups.
Some examples of allegations about Pseudo-secularism are (note, that these give the complaints brough forth, not necessarily a balanced representation of all issues involved.):
In Germany
In Germany the state collects taxes for two Christian groups, while other religious or atheist groups have to collect their membership fees without the help of the state. Furthermore, there are religion lessons at school given by the state, but only for those two Christian denominations. Critics want the German state to stop supporting religious groups in this way.
In India
Since an amendment in 1976, the constitution of India describes the country as "secular", but an overwhelming majority of the Indians do not understand the word "Secularism" as a form of governance that is not affiliated with any particular religion. Instead, it is commonly understood as a philosophy where all religions are accepted/tolerated and the state is expected to involve itself actively in making the balancing act.
The state's participation in religious rituals and symbolism, such as during the inauguration ceremonies, are not considered as at odds with secularism. Such events are common and are generally considered secular as long as all major religious priests and rituals are represented. Religious appeasement is more important for the government or legislature than separation of religion from state. Criticism of ay religious dogmas and beliefs are normally not accepted as a genuine right or freedom of expression. Books with even academic criticism of popular beliefs are routinely banned. Many governments have made laws promoting appeasement of religious dogmas, such as ban on cow slaughter.
It is normal in Indian way of secularism for public money to be spent towards religion’s indirect promotion. All government schools, whether Christian, Hindu or Islamic (Madrassas), routinely promote religious prayers. Many political parties in India have been accused of appeasing the minority groups, which are their vote banks, by putting up candidates who have the same religion as the majority of the voters in a constituency, ensuring the voters special consideration after the candidate wins the election.
Appeasement of Hindus
Many state governments have banned slaughter of cows for beef, a common diet in many parts of the world and even acceptable diet for many communities in India.Public figures in the government reflect the society and practice religious rituals in matters of governance such as 'Yagnas' for a good monsoon etc.
Appeasement of minority communities
Many people in India allege that the minority groups, especially the Muslims and the Christians, are given special privileges and advantages over Hindus.Many self-proclaimed secular parties, create vote banks among minority religion communities, by fanning fears of being sidelined or persecuted by the majority community of Hindus.
Instances in 2006 of the Government asking for a record of the number of Muslims at higher positions in the Army , was seen by many in the intellegensia as a bid to create communal divides in the name of increasing representation of Muslims in the Army, which has always carried the image of the most secular institutions of India.
The educational institutions established by non-Hindus can apply for the "Religious Minority Status". This means that 50% of the seats in these institutions are reserved for students belonging to a particular religion. For example, in many institutions run by Catholic missionaries, 50% of the seats are reserved for Roman Catholic students. The state-run Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) also enjoyed a minority status (50% of the seats reserved for Muslims), until the High Court declared that the status was anti-constitutional. But the Teachers' and Students' Union of AMU, as well as many political leaders protested this decision of the Court.
Many Muslims groups have also asked for quotas in prestigious institutions managed by Government. A committee set up by the HRD ministry in 2005 recommended quotas for Muslims in institutions such as IITs, IIMs and IIFT.
Recently, the Congress Government of Andhra Pradesh introduced a 5% job quota for Muslims, but it was struck down by the Supreme Court of India .
The Government of India also allows different laws for different religions, which it says is a consideration to accommodate for the religious differences (see Shah Bano case). For example, the Muslims are allowed to have more than one wife and divorce their wives using the triple talaq method. Many Indians (including moderate Muslims and Christians) are pressing for implementation of a uniform civil code as originally proposed in the Constitution of India.
Some other examples of perceived pseudo-secularism in India are the special concessions given to Muslims for pilgrimages (Hajj).
In the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, which has no codified constitution, the role of religion in the state machinery is well-established, although this is increasingly being viewed as anachronistic, given the relatively unreligious population, with, for example, the overwhelming majority of people claiming to be religious not engaging in regular worship. Examples of the relative deference to religious interests include the default allocation of over 20 seats in the upper House (House of Lords) to Christian bishops; an increasing level of state funding of religious schools, many of which will exclude both pupils and teachers not belonging to the prescribed faith; and a legal obligation on terrestrial television broadcasters to broadcast a minimum number of hours of religious programming. Increasing pressure from religious groups in the years 2000-2005 has led to the introduction of new laws promoting the interests of religious groups, such as a law banning incitement to religious hatred – a law which fails to protect other minorities (for example, homosexuals) from incitement to hatred. In addition, it is still illegal by case law to commit blasphemy in the United Kingdom, although nobody has been prosecuted for this crime since the mid-1970s.
Groups such as the National Secular Society have been campaigning for a stricter separation of religion and state in the UK since the late 19th century, asserting that British taxpayers' money should not fund religious schools; that bishops should not sit by default in the House of Lords, and that followers of humanism and atheist philosophies should be accorded equal rights to followers of faith-based philosophies. By contrast, the Church of England (and other religious associations such as the Muslim Council of Britain) argue that religion deserves a special place in society and that policy-making should reflect this. It is of interest to note that as of 2005, the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has repeatedly been described as a proto-Catholic, has a Catholic wife, and chose to have his children educated at a strongly Catholic school, The London Oratory; many pro-secular commentators have argued that it would be difficult for a leader with strong personal religious beliefs to actively pursue a secular agenda.
In the United States
In the United States, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution has been judicially interpreted as calling for the separation of church and state.
However, because the nation's population is overwhelmingly Christian, the judiciary has allowed for some exceptions. For example, American currency bears the national motto "In God we trust", the Pledge of Allegiance was altered to include the phrase "under God," both Congress and many state legislatures have legislative chaplains, and many courts have a crier or clerk who opens proceedings with the phrase, "God save the United States and this honorable court."
In Iraq
The recent Iraqi Constitution seeks to be ultimate law in Iraq, but also calls for the Supreme Federal Court to be made up of judges who are experts in Sharia (Islamic Law). It also supports a right to freedom of belief, but simultaneously makes Islam the national religion.
A similar seeming contradiction is found in the Constitution of Afghanistan, where civil law and Sharia coexists.
In Norway
Norway is one of the most secular countries in the world, with a low percentage of the population actively participating in religious affairs. Journal of Religion and Society, Volume 7 2005, Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular Religiosity and Secularism in the Prosperous Democracies, A First Look, Gregory S. Paul Baltimore, Maryland. The state religion of Norway is Lutheran Christianity, and 86% of Norway's population is a member. In order to form a government, 10 out of 19 members of the Norwegian Council of State have to be a member of the state church. Rising controversy about this pseudo-secularism has ended in various measures being taken, including the school subject 'Christian education' being renamed to 'Christian knowledge and religious and ethical education'. The religious neutrality of this subject is contentious. Human Rights Committee, Communication No. 1155/2003
Notes and references
External links
"Pseudo-secularism"