- What is a secular state?
- Characteristics of a secular state
- history of secularism
- Examples of secular states in the 21st century
- Secular state and non-denominational state
We explain what a secular State is, its characteristics and differences with a non-denominational State. Also, the history of secularism.
What is a secular state?
A Condition layman is everything country whose national Constitution does not grant any religion either worship an official status. This means that the State does not have a defined religious position, does not promote any cult or beliefs specific, and therefore allows full freedom of worship: everyone can believe in what he thinks best, as long as he does not violate any law, nor harm others.
In secular States, religion is an intimate, personal matter, in which the State has no responsibility, and therefore no entity, confession or religious organization can be promoted from the public sector, nor can it have influence in decision-making. national decisions. A secular State is the complete opposite of a confessional State, where a Church plays an important political role and religion is a matter of State.
A key aspect of any secular state is the separation between state and religion, or between church and state. This does not mean that secular states are atheists, as certain regimes were communists that prohibited and persecuted any religious manifestation, but are "neutral" in religious matters: they are secular, worldly, dealing only with material and earthly matters.
Characteristics of a secular state
Secular states are characterized by the following:
- They have a clear and absolute separation between State affairs (bureaucracy, political leadership, civil management, the exercise of justice, among others) and religious, mystical and faith affairs. Which means that these two spheres of life do not mix (as long as the exercise of faith does not violate secular laws).
- The National Constitution does not contemplate any religion as "official" or "of the State", and beyond consecrating freedom of worship and combating discrimination religious, does not deal with matters of the spirit.
- The citizens of the secular State are all equal before the law, without distinction of their religious affiliation or their spiritual practices.
- There is a system of education secular public, away from any religious consideration.
- The church and religion can play an important moral role, but they cannot take part in the political, economic or legal conduct of the country.
- However, it is possible that the secularism of the State is not total and absolute, as occurs in certain Latin American countries in which the calendar of national festivities is, at the same time, the religious one (Holy Week, Christmas, etc.), and in which many church officials are considered public workers.
history of secularism
The secular state is a conquest of liberalism, a political, philosophical and social current that emerged in Europe at the end of the 18th century, and that aspired to overcome the world of the Old Regime, where most of the States were confessional and governed by a monarch in an absolutist manner.
The concept of "secular State" emerged in France in the nineteenth century, as a result of the separation between the institutions of the State and the Catholic Church that brought with it the Illustration and the revolutions Liberals.The idea of the secularization of the State, that is, of its neutrality in religious matters, went hand in hand with the reduction of the political power of the Church and its influence on national destinies, since the clergy was for centuries a firm ally of the monarchical and conservative classes.
At the beginning of the 21st century, secularism is the prevailing norm in 160 of the 190 countries of the United Nations, and is considered a key feature in the construction of a modern state. However, many confessional states still exist, especially in the Islamic world and in some Western nations with Catholic and Protestant traditions.
Examples of secular states in the 21st century
Examples of secular States or without official religion currently:
- Germany
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Cameroon
- Chili
- China
- Cuba
- Spain
- France
- Greece
- Honduras
- India
- Italy
- Japan
- Kenya
- Luxembourg
- Nepal
- Nigeria
- Norway
- New Zealand
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Syria
- Senegal
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Zimbabwe
Secular state and non-denominational state
A non-denominational State is one that does not officially adhere to any religion, but is not exempt from agreements, pacts and aid with religious institutions, as long as this does not influence the political course of the country. Both the secular State and the non-denominational State are contrary to the confessional or religious State, but the first two are distinguished in the degree of separation maintained with respect to ecclesiastical affairs.
Thus, a secular State expects a total and absolute separation of the State and religious affairs, while a non-denominational State allows itself the financing, mutual support and even defense of certain religious organizations, as long as this does not imply the submission of the State to the will of the Church, nor to her religious precepts.