Upholding secularism was a clarion call in the recent elections. All the non-NDA parties coalesced around this banner pushing the BJP into a corner that it found hard to defend. So given the broad consensus on "secularism", let us get Truly Secular.
True Secularism would mean a consistent "non-denominational" set of laws for all Bharatvasis. Not one set for Hindus, another for Muslims and yet another for Christians. Having a Universal Law that is applied to each citizen regardless of their religious affiliation would be true secularism.
And it is time to separate Faith from State. Faith issues should be devoid of any governmental and political control. For instance the BJP's insistence that the Vande Mataram should be sung in all public schools is unacceptable, and rightly so to non-Hindus. It mentions Goddess Durga and there is subtle reference to her being the "Mother".
As part of being secular the government and politicians should have no say in religious organizations as long as the religious organizations operate within the law and act ethically. There is a hue and cry over Christian organizations flush with cash from foreign sources enticing the desperately poor to embrace Christianity in return for assistance. My heart goes out to the poor, who have no one to turn to and so "sell" their faith for survival. In a secular society people should have the freedom to embrace and practice any religion of their choice provided they are not coerced or forced. One could argue that this "purchasing" of a person's faith is a business deal and one of garnering "market share". And so look at it as a commercial activity and apply laws of commerce. A person willingly "selling" their faith allegiance in return for assistance should be treated as a personal issue. Whether there ought to be anti-conversion laws or not, is a debatable issue. One could consider anti-solicitation laws applicable to this issue. So let’s get secular and debate this issue in court and come to some mutual consensus that is enacted into law. Make this an issue for the courts to decide.
Currently many temple boards have political appointees and the government takes a cut from donations made to a temple. Granted religious organizations should be governed, however this should be done by third party committees consisting of members of their respective congregation. And the same set of rules should be applicable to all religious entities, be it a temple, church, synagogue or mosque.
And there is the issue of monetary assistance being given to poor Muslims who wish to make the journey to Mecca. This is an issue of tax payer money being spent on a religious activity and violates the very tenet of secularism.
No religious artifacts ought to be displayed in Government Offices, unless it is displayed in a personal context in an official's office. i.e. an individual should have the freedom to display articles of their faith at their office or work station.
And so the time has come to be Truly Secular and establish a wall of separation that prevents the intrusion of the Government into Religious and Faith issues. Like wise, specific faith issues should be outside the ambit of the laws. What we need to do is establish ONE set of laws that govern ALL Bharatvasis regardless of their religious affiliation.
True Secularism would mean a consistent "non-denominational" set of laws for all Bharatvasis. Not one set for Hindus, another for Muslims and yet another for Christians. Having a Universal Law that is applied to each citizen regardless of their religious affiliation would be true secularism.
And it is time to separate Faith from State. Faith issues should be devoid of any governmental and political control. For instance the BJP's insistence that the Vande Mataram should be sung in all public schools is unacceptable, and rightly so to non-Hindus. It mentions Goddess Durga and there is subtle reference to her being the "Mother".
As part of being secular the government and politicians should have no say in religious organizations as long as the religious organizations operate within the law and act ethically. There is a hue and cry over Christian organizations flush with cash from foreign sources enticing the desperately poor to embrace Christianity in return for assistance. My heart goes out to the poor, who have no one to turn to and so "sell" their faith for survival. In a secular society people should have the freedom to embrace and practice any religion of their choice provided they are not coerced or forced. One could argue that this "purchasing" of a person's faith is a business deal and one of garnering "market share". And so look at it as a commercial activity and apply laws of commerce. A person willingly "selling" their faith allegiance in return for assistance should be treated as a personal issue. Whether there ought to be anti-conversion laws or not, is a debatable issue. One could consider anti-solicitation laws applicable to this issue. So let’s get secular and debate this issue in court and come to some mutual consensus that is enacted into law. Make this an issue for the courts to decide.
Currently many temple boards have political appointees and the government takes a cut from donations made to a temple. Granted religious organizations should be governed, however this should be done by third party committees consisting of members of their respective congregation. And the same set of rules should be applicable to all religious entities, be it a temple, church, synagogue or mosque.
And there is the issue of monetary assistance being given to poor Muslims who wish to make the journey to Mecca. This is an issue of tax payer money being spent on a religious activity and violates the very tenet of secularism.
No religious artifacts ought to be displayed in Government Offices, unless it is displayed in a personal context in an official's office. i.e. an individual should have the freedom to display articles of their faith at their office or work station.
And so the time has come to be Truly Secular and establish a wall of separation that prevents the intrusion of the Government into Religious and Faith issues. Like wise, specific faith issues should be outside the ambit of the laws. What we need to do is establish ONE set of laws that govern ALL Bharatvasis regardless of their religious affiliation.
