Secular state

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 does not give unfair preferential treatment for a 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. United States of America) or upon secularization of the state (e.g. France). Movements for laïcité in France and for the separation of church and state in the United States 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.