You are right Amlan. You explain it very well. However I take issue with "I see Indian "secularism" (or whatever of that exists) as more in line > > with the U.S. concept than what is practiced in France." :-).
It maybe so in appearance, but in substance it is far different, like most things Indian that emulate others. It is all make-believe! Mostly a show. On Feb 11, 2011, at 9:42 AM, amlan saha wrote: > I would actually characterize it differently. > > Secularism in the US implies equal recognition of all religions. It > is the separation of the church and the state (although nothing > specific anywhere spells this out) - the "no establishment" of > religion and "free exercise thereof" in the first amendment taken > together would amount to this separation. Consequently, because of > the equal recognition and the separation, there is a distance but > amicable relationship and significant cooperation between the church > and the state in the U.S. > > This is in sharp contrast to the French concept of "laicite", which > legally prohibits the French state from even recognizing any religion, > let alone cooperating with any. One important part of being French is > to keep your religion private and not flaunt it; completely unlike in > the U.S. Laicite is often seen as outright anti-clericalism. > > Alex de Tocqueville, whom modern conservatives in the U.S. so love, > actually speaks glowingly of U.S. secularism (and chides the French) > in his "Democracy in America" because of this exact difference. > > I see Indian "secularism" (or whatever of that exists) as more in line > with the U.S. concept than what is practiced in France. > > > > On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 10:24 AM, Rajiv Baruah <[email protected]> wrote: >> In USA, secularism means absence of religion. In India, secularism means >> equal treatment of all religions. Thus the multi-faith prayers during >> "state" functions. This definition of secularism has been sanctified by >> years of prevailing usage and case law. There is also the very widespread >> practice of lighting lamps and chanting a few Sanskrit slokas to bless the >> start of many functions. This act of lighting a lamp and chanting Sanskrit >> slokas too is not considered religious but cultural. >> >> Trust this clarifies. >> >> Best regards >> >> Rajiv >> >> >> >> >> >> Sent from my iPad >> _______________________________________________ >> assam mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >> > > _______________________________________________ > assam mailing list > [email protected] > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
