Secularism

Question 1

The challenge of secularism

Answer 1

• Secularism is the idea that religious belief should not affect how the state is run.
• Different approaches; religion and state decisions should be seperated (to avoid favouring one religion over the other) religious background should be entirely removed from anything to do with the state- from schools to public holidays.
• Some Christians support secularism because Christianity began as a religion within society, not one that controlled society.
• Secularisation is the process of making a society more secular, taking religion out of all aspects opf state life.

Question 2

The view that society would be happier without Christianity

Answer 2

Sigmund Freud and Richard Dawkins argued that God is an illusion and the result of wish- fulfillment; Christianity is infantile, repressive and causes conflict. Both adocate secularisation and the development of society towards the removal of religion and the promotion of reason through scientific methods.

Question 3

Sigmund Freud

Answer 3

• An atheist psychoanalyst who believed that religion is the cause of neuroses, in the future science will be able to answer all key questions because psychoanalysis will ‘cure’ people of religious belief.
• Religion is a reflection of our subconscious projecting onto our subconscious minds - just like a daydream.
• It is an infantile result of the Oedipus Complex; this resentment is repressed into the subconscious mind and projected onto the idea of God, the ultimate father-figure.
• Expressed in primitive cultures through the totem pole- the phallic symbol of maleness in societies where one went to seek forgiveness; in modern society this is the male God taht we seek comfort from through religious ritual.
• Repitition of this worships is obsessional and found in all parts of society:Religion= ‘universal obsessional neurosis’.
• Religion is unhealthy and this leads to negaitivity within society.

Question 4

Richard Dawkins

Answer 4

• An evolutionary biologist known for his rejection for a need for a creator God.
• Unanswered questions should not be filled with an unsubstantiated belief in God, but should bge filled with trust that that science is on the way to finding answers.
• Dawkins thinks that religious belief is a problem for society. it causes conflict and it holds back children - it is a form of child abuse as parents are labeling children before they can think for themselves.
• So much evidence for the Big Bang theory and for Evolution that belief in Genesis highlights ignorance.

Question 5

The view that Christianity should play no part in public life.

Answer 5

Secular humanism is a term used for those who think that humans can live positive, good lives without religion. Humanists have come together to declare common values. Most believe that Christian belief is personal and should play no part in public life.

Question 6

Education and schools.

Answer 6

Approx. 1/3 ofschools in the UK are faith schools.

Dawkins is a clear opponent of faith education and believes that it is time for them to be replaced.

Question 7

Arguements for faith schools

Answer 7

• Only 1/3 of schools are faith schools, so families have a choice.
• Chruch attendance may be dropping but many people still consider themselves Christian and should be allowed to reflect this in their educational choices.
• All schools have mission statements and value systems so faith schools are no different from other schools.
• Reflects diversity and tolerance - fundamental British values.
• Pupils in faiths schools are as diverse as the societies they exist in; not necessarily made up of their faith background.

Question 8

Arguments against faith schools

Answer 8

• Labelling children from a young age.
• tecahing of some areas, such as RE and science, might be subject to bias, especially in fundamentalist schools, possibly even leading to a risk of radicalisation.
• Children in faith schools are not fully aware of the rest of secular society.
• Faiths schools might reflect narrow views of what religious people are like.
• Faith should be something only taught by parents and religious communities.

Question 9

Government and state

Answer 9

Uk historically has close ties between Christianity and the State. The Church of Engalnd is a national Church and the Queen is its Supreme Govenor.
Bishops automatically have seats in the House of Lords.
Some argue that these historic links should be seperate to reflect the reality of twenty-first century Britain. Some argue that this is still representative of how the country is made up, and representatives from faith traditions outside the Church of England are now represented in the House of Lords as well.
The United States and France seperate Church and State.
Argued that secularisation of State cane lead to the censorship of certain approaches in favour of a different, non-religious ideology, which is still itself an ideology: could be arguedv this led to fascism and communism.
A more balanced approach to secularism can celebrate all perpsectives, including religious ones.
Christians argue that the religion Jesus founded was one where Christians spoke from within their secular context and worked togtehr to promote the common good and to care for those in need.