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In India, while Nehru is said to be a secularist, he had allowed all Whist we have grouped all faiths and beliefs under a single
religions the freedom to develop as they wished. In fact the secular label of religion, no two religions are the same. Religions come in
approach of Nehru helped to maintain peace, stability and democracy different forms, each with its own world view, values, ideals and
in India especially during the turbulent times immediately after historical baggage. Even within the same religion there are diverse
independence. In Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman declared that sects, sub sects and differing views. For instance, the Abrahamic
Malaysia is a secular state, but on the ground, Islam enjoyed strong religions are God based, Buddhism is non-theistic, and some have
support from his government and develop steadily till today. His a more peaceful history than others, while some others are more
open declaration that Malaysia is a secular state did not diminish inclusive rather than exclusive.
his position as a Muslim.
When a society is homogeneous, and the citizens profess the
It may be interesting to note that China, one of the most same religion, the first question may be easier addressed; even then,
secular countries in the world, is today witnessing a rapid growth there is no assurance that consensus could be reached. Religion is
in religions. Despite being labelled as a radically secular country, not about reason; it’s about faith, and in matters of faith, to reach
hundreds of temples, churches and mosques open every year across consensus is undoubtedly difficult. If we were to turn to the so-
China, attracting millions of new worshippers. A casual visitor to called universal values found in different religions, than we are
China cannot miss the sign: new churches dotting the countryside, suspected of being secular, which again may be frown upon.
and temples being rebuilt or massively expanded. (see Ian John:
China’s Great Awakening, Foreign Affairs, March-April 2017). Further, in reality, there is no nation that is homogeneous in
nature. There is no nation that is occupied by citizens of the same
Religiously Grounded Religious Liberty. faith. There is hardly any country in the world today where only
one religion exists. Practically every country is pluralistic. So
The learned author T. Shah advocated in his paper that “Freedom chances are different religions will compete for greater influence
and democracy should be secured on foundations that do not run in the same space. Would such competition lead to freedom and
against the grain of religious conviction, but on foundations that democracy? In a competition for influence and power, it is usually
align with religious insights and dynamics.“ Given the current trend the hardliners who would harness and mobilise resources more
of religious fervor, that seems to be the natural way. However, this efficiently than others. When hardliners complete against hardliners,
proposal is not without problems. Firstly, which “religious insights disputes and conflicts are expected to arise. Where than is freedom
and dynamics” should be promoted? Secondly, how to deal with and democracy?
different religions competing for greater influence? Thirdly, how
to deal with the position of minority religions within a pluralistic Next, how do we deal with minority religions in a country?
society? Practically every nation has some minority religions. Would
their voices be heard, or in the name of democracy, be sidelined?
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