Secular state
A secular state is a state or country that officially is neutral in matters of religion, neither supporting nor opposing any particular religious beliefs or practices, and has no state religion or equivalent. A secular state also treats all its citizens equally regardless of religion, and does not give unfair preferential treatment for a citizen from a particular religion over other religions.
A secular state is not an atheistic state (e.g. Albania under Enver Hoxha), in which the state officially opposes all religious beliefs and practices. Theoretically, a secular state protects freedom of religion and freedom from religion, as pursued in state secularism. It is also described to be a state that prevents religion from interfering with state affairs, and prevents religion from controlling government or exercising political power. Laws protect each individual including religious minorities from discrimination on the basis of religion.
In some secular states, there can be a huge majority religion in the population (e.g. Turkey) and in others there may be great religious diversity (e.g. India). Secular states become secular either upon establishment of the state (e.g. Philippines) or upon secularization of the state (e.g. France). Movements for laïcité in France and for the separation of church and state in the Philippines began the evolution of the present secular states. Historically, the process of secularizing states typically involves granting religious freedom, disestablishing state religions, stopping public funds to be used for a religion, freeing the legal system from religious control, opening up the education system, tolerating citizens who change religion, and allowing political leadership to come to power regardless of religious beliefs. Public holidays that were originally religious holidays and other traditions are not necessarily affected, and public institutions become safe from being used and abused by religion.
Many different types of government have been secular states, including republics (such as the Republic of France). Not all legally secular states are completely secular in practice. In France for example, state institutions close for Christmas, and teachers in Catholic schools are salaried by the state.
List of secular states
The following is an incomplete list of officially secular states as of December 2006:
- Australia
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Canada
- Chile
- France
- Germany
- India
- Ireland
- Japan
- Mexico
- Mongolia
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Philippines
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russian Federation (Article 14 of Constitution)
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Singapore
- Sweden
- Tajikistan
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
List of former secular states
- Bangladesh (1971-1976)
- Pakistan (1947-1956)
See also
External link
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