Secular Democracy

Extracted Attributes

• Etymology

  From Ancient Greek 'dēmokratía' (dēmos 'people' and krátos 'rule')

• Key Features

  Free elections, civil liberties, human rights, and minority protections

• Core Principle

  Separation of religion and government (separation of church and state)

• Dominant Modern Form

  Representative democracy

• Global Population Share (2022)

  Less than 50% (according to V-Dem and The Economist indices)

• Economic Potential (Iran Transition)

  $1 Trillion USD for global markets over the next decade

Timeline

• The term democracy appears in Greek city-states, notably Classical Athens, meaning rule of the people. (Source: Wikipedia)

  -0500-01-01

• Suffrage movements begin expanding democratic citizenship from elite classes to all adult citizens through the 19th and 20th centuries. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1800-01-01

• V-Dem and The Economist Democracy Index report that less than half the world's population lives in a democracy. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2022-12-31

• Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi outlines the Iran Prosperity Project to manage a 100-day stabilization period for a new secular democracy. (Source: All-In Podcast)

  2024-01-01

Democracy

Democracy (from Ancient Greek: δημοκρατία, romanized: dēmokratía, from dēmos 'people' and krátos 'rule') is a form of government in which political power is vested in the people or the population of a state. Under a minimalist definition of democracy, rulers are elected through competitive elections while more expansive or maximalist definitions link democracy to guarantees of civil liberties and human rights in addition to competitive elections. In a direct democracy, the people have the direct authority to deliberate and decide legislation. In a representative democracy, the people choose governing officials through elections to do so. The definition of "the people" and the ways authority is shared among them or delegated by them have changed over time and at varying rates in different countries. Features of democracy often include freedom of assembly, association, personal property, freedom of religion and speech, citizenship, consent of the governed, voting rights, freedom from unwarranted governmental deprivation of the right to life and liberty, and minority rights. The notion of democracy has evolved considerably over time. Throughout history, one can find evidence of direct democracy, in which communities make decisions through popular assembly. Today, the dominant form of democracy is representative democracy, where citizens elect government officials to govern on their behalf such as in a parliamentary or presidential democracy. In the common variant of liberal democracy, the powers of the majority are exercised within the framework of a representative democracy, but a constitution and supreme court limit the majority and protect the minority—usually through securing the enjoyment by all of certain individual rights, such as freedom of speech or freedom of association. The term appeared in the 5th century BC in Greek city-states, notably Classical Athens, to mean "rule of the people", in contrast to aristocracy (ἀριστοκρατία, aristokratía), meaning "rule of an elite". In virtually all democratic governments throughout ancient and modern history, democratic citizenship was initially restricted to an elite class, which was later extended to all adult citizens. In most modern democracies, this was achieved through the suffrage movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. Democracy contrasts with forms of government where power is not vested in the general population of a state, such as authoritarian systems. Historically a rare and vulnerable form of government, democratic systems of government have become more prevalent since the 19th century, in particular with various waves of democratization. Democracy garners considerable legitimacy in the modern world, as public opinion across regions tends to strongly favor democratic systems of government relative to alternatives, and as even authoritarian states try to present themselves as democratic. Democracy more consistently results in improved health, education and economic outcomes. According to the V-Dem Democracy indices and The Economist Democracy Index, less than half the world's population lives in a democracy as of 2022. At the same time, while representative democracy is widely valued, Pew Research Center found that dissatisfaction with democratic performance is common even in many established democracies.

Web Search Results

• What is a secular democracy? | CPS GLOBAL

  To understand democracy we have to add the element of secularism with it. In present times the democratic system has been based on the principle of secular democracy. Secularism does not provide any philosophy of life in the absolute sense. Secularism, in actual fact, pertains to worldly affairs. For instance, the establishment of peace, city planning, infrastructure, etc. Secular democracy means that the administration of common worldly matters should be referred to as the democratic process, but, so far as the matter of the observation of religious duties is concerned, people should be given equal rights and full freedom. [...] Home # What is a secular democracy? # What is a secular democracy? ## Breadcrumb What is democracy? Democracy is defined as a majority rule. But this definition is not enough to understand democracy. You will have to add these words: Majority rule in secular affairs. The fact is that democracy is not an absolute theory, rather it is only a practical solution. Democracy is a practical system for a society that comprises people of different religious traditions. In a democratic set -up government institutions can be formed peacefully wherein all religious groups are given full opportunities to observe their religious obligations. [...] This division does not mean reducing the sphere of religion, it rather means giving a starting point to religious people. In a secular democratic system, a religious group finds the opportunity to adopt the principle of “beginning from the possible” and start its peaceful struggle. That is, to achieve whatever is achievable today and for the rest, it may prepare the minds of the people and thus may keep increasing gradually and peacefully its sphere of influence. Source: The True Face of Islam ### Category/Sub category Share icon Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share via WhatsApp ## Subscribe

• Secularism explained

  Secularism seeks to defend the absolute freedom of religious and other belief, and protect the right to manifest religious belief insofar as it does not impinge on the rights and freedoms of others. Secularism ensures that the right of individuals to freedom of religion is always balanced by the right to be free from religion. Secularism is about democracy and fairness In a secular democracy all citizens are equal before the law and parliament. No religious affiliation gives advantages or disadvantages and religious believers are citizens with the same rights and obligations as anyone else. [...] If we were to become a truly a secular democracy, political structures would reflect the reality of modern Britain by separating religion from the state. Secularism protects freedom of religion or belief for all Secularism safeguards freedom of religion or belief and ensures that the government does not favour any particular religion or impose religion on its citizens. A secular state seeks to ensure and protect freedom of belief and practice for all citizens. Secularists want freedoms of thought and conscience to apply equally to all – religious believers and nonreligious alike. [...] Skip To Main Content National Secular Society Press to Toggle Menu Join Donate # Secularism explained Equal treatment and freedom of belief for all. Secularism is a political idea concerned with the best way to govern religiously pluralist societies. The model of secularism we advocate for defends the civil liberties of all, whatever your personal beliefs. The principles of secularism which protect and underpin liberal democracy and many of the freedoms we enjoy are:

• Secularism - Wikipedia

  In political terms, secularism is a movement towards the separation of religion and government, often termed the separation of church and state. This can refer to reducing ties between a government and a state religion, replacing laws based on scripture (such as Halakha, Dharmaśāstra, and Sharia) with civil laws "Civil law (legal system)"), and eliminating discrimination on the basis of religion. This is said to add to democracy by protecting the rights of religious minorities. Separation of church and state is one possible strategy to be deployed by secular governments. From the democratic to the authoritarian, such governments share a concern to limit the religious side in the relationship. Each state may find its own unique policy prescriptions. These may include separation, careful [...] ## Secular society [edit] In studies of religion, modern democracies are generally recognized as secular. This is due to the near-complete freedom of religion (religious beliefs generally are not subject to legal or social sanctions), and the lack of authority of religious leaders over political decisions. Nevertheless, it has been claimed that surveys done by Pew Research Center show Americans as generally being more comfortable with religion playing a major role in public life, while in Europe the impact of the church on public life is declining. [...] Still, Rawl's theory is akin to Holyoake's vision of a tolerant democracy that treats all life stance groups alike. Rawl's idea is that it is in everybody's own interest to endorse "a reasonable constitutional democracy" with "principles of toleration". His work has been highly influential on scholars in political philosophy and his term, overlapping consensus, seems to have for many parts replaced secularism among them. In textbooks on modern political philosophy, like Colin Farrelly's, An Introduction to Contemporary Political Theory, and Will Kymlicka's, Contemporary Political Philosophy, the term secularism is not even indexed and in the former it can be seen only in one footnote. However, there is no shortage of discussion and coverage of the topic it involves. It is just called

• Secularism | Religion and Philosophy | Research Starters - EBSCO

  Modern democracies are examples of soft secular states. England has not disestablished the Church of England. Catholicism and the Catholic Church remain very influential in the governments of France, Mexico, and South America. The US government recognizes official Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter by closing government offices, courts, and public schools; limiting public transportation; and curtailing mail service. Civil courts manage marriage and divorce, but they recognize — or at least consider — rulings in such matters from Jewish and Muslim religious courts. Congress and the Supreme Court begin with a prayer led by a religious leader at their opening sessions. [...] Secularism is a philosophical movement indifferent to or opposing religion. Secularism argues for strict separation between religion and government, education, and the law. Secularism rejects special considerations for religious institutions and practices. The provenance of US secularism is the First Amendment in the Constitution that declares, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." For example, some secularists find religious schools divisive and a threat to democratic principles. There are "hard" and "soft" secularists. Some want an end to all public expressions of religious faith such as Christmas trees and Menorahs placed on government property. Other secularists lobby to end government funding of faith-based [...] ## Secularism Today Most modern democracies rule on the principle of separation between religion and government, but the lines are never absolute. There are two camps of secularists: the "hard secularists" believe religious-based proposals are completely illegitimate. Science, reason, and respect for individual civil rights, but not religious rights, are their guiding principles. "Soft secularists" hold there are no absolute truths, so skepticism and tolerance influence them. The twentieth-century revolutions in Russia and China are the purest examples of governments ruled by hard secularism. Religions and religious practices were banned and the faithful severely punished.

• Secularism | Definition, Separation of Church and State, History ...

  John Rawls) can be a salutary democratic model of political secularism in religiously diverse countries. [...] Frontiers - Frontiers in Sociology - Debating secularism: A liberal cosmopolitan perspective GGU Law Digital Commons - The Modern Concept of Secularism and Islamic Jurisprudence: A Comparative Analysis (PDF) CORE - Secularism in America : A Brief History of Non-Religion Movement The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale - A Conceptual Analysis of Secularism and its Legitimacy in the Constitutional Democratic State (PDF) The Ohio State University - Origins - Secularism, Past and Future The Guardian - Secularism is not the same as modernity ABC listen - Radio National Breakfast - Secularism and the rise of the religious "nones"; in praise of solitude [...] A philosophical and religious perspective on secularism is presented in Charles Taylor’s influential book A Secular Age (2007), wherein Taylor contends that religion is neither disappearing nor being separated from secular aspects of modern life. Instead, he sees a new secular era dawning, focused on new ideas of “human flourishing,” that prompts “new conditions of belief,” such that secularization is not the gradual disappearance of religion but a process of “destabilization and recomposition.” On this view, religion and nonreligion are now in an ongoing dialogue. Taylor also suggests that dialogue between religious and nonreligious groups in pursuit of an “overlapping consensus” (a term coined by the American philosopher John Rawls) can be a salutary democratic model of political