Page 382 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol IV

secularism 1683

although in his later years especially after the 1962
debacle he came under the influence of at least one
mystic. His orthodox secularism sought to alienate the reality was that such rules were issued and interpreted
the Indian from his hoary past. contemporaneously by philosophers, affirmed by politi-
Since nearly 85 per cent of Indians are pan-Hindu cians, and enforced by soldiers.
in beliefs, and Hindu religion from its inception has The routine creation and enforcement of binding laws,
been without a ‘Church’,‘Pope’ or ‘Book’ (in contra- although cloaked in the pursuit of justice, was largely
distinction to Christianity or Islam), therefore neither devoid of fearing the wrath of God. However, there was
Martin Luther nor Marx made any sense to the Indian no systematically written secular doctrine articulated.
masses. Since there was little political challenge to An alternative, secular moral paradigm to secure social
Nehru after the untimely death of Gandhiji and Patel, equality and moral consistency did not evolve, valiant
the Marxian secularism concept superficially pre- attempts by learned men such as Socrates (c. 470–399
vailed in the Indian milieu till his demise in 1964.The BCE), Plato (c. 428–348 or 347 BCE), and Aristotle (384–
masses therefore had humoured Nehru out of respect 322 BCE) notwithstanding.The rise of Christianity in the
for him without imbibing his concept of secularism. first centuries CE and of Islam after the seventh century CE
A conceptual void of what secularism means for provided guidelines for such cohesion, although at the
India, and what part of history was to be owned how- cost of submission to the supreme authority of organized
ever remained to be filled. religions that penalized and crushed most secular, inde-
Source: Swamy, S. (2004). Redefining Secularism. The Hindu. Retrieved from http:// pendent thoughts.
www.hindu.com/2004/03/18/stories/2004031801941000.htm
The Middle Ages
Throughout medieval times, from the decline of the
Roman Empire around 500 CE to the Renaissance in the
fifteenth century, the collaboration of insular church and
Faith, especially one that adheres to an omnipotent state powers secured a potent hegemony.There was little
God, has been a customary answer to the trials and tribu- tolerance and pluralism in what became known as Latin
lations of mortals.Adherence to specific dogmas became Christendom or in Muslim lands. Parochial institutions
an organizing principle. Whether it is Judaism, Chris- and political incumbents branded individuals and groups
tianity, Islam, Hinduism, or Confucianism, followers of that dissented from official dogmas as heretics and as infi-
such traditions surrender many of their basic life deci- dels. A public challenge to the legitimacy of holy people
sions, and the authority over the evolution of their lives, and sacred documents often led to a painful, premature
to an outside entity.Those who hold religious convictions death at the violent hands of religious authorities. Des-
usually expect reward or punishment based on their ignating this rigid era as a “dark age” is thus appropriate.
commitment, conduct, prayers, performance of rituals,
and degree of sacrifice. Early Modern Europe
From the fifteenth century onward, especially throughout
Classic Times western and central Europe, a fundamental change tran-
Both the Greeks and the Romans espoused a framework spired. Several elements interfaced.They included the pro-
of peremptory norms that supersede and prevail over liferation of trade-oriented city-states that carved
humanmade, ordinary stipulations. The Romans aimed economic prominence and political freedom while resent-
to abide by compelling laws, jus cogens (literally, com- ing papal supremacy; the growing independence of com-
pelling laws); the Greeks had natural law. Ostensibly, the peting monarchies; the teachings of Martin Luther
authority for proclaiming these moral standards came (1483–1546) and the subsequent Protestant Reforma-
from mythical gods or ancient forefathers. Nevertheless, tion; the writings of Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677); and