What is a Religion? Rethinking Religion and Secularism

TL;DR

Secularism may be considered a religion in its own right, with its own set of beliefs, values, and ideals that govern the public sphere and shape societal norms.

Transcript

• This is what I hope will be potentially a future book, which I'm tentatively calling "The Myth of Secularism", but I'm basically going to share some of my reflections on what is really a work in progress. And looking at a few questions. What is religion? We usually think of it as a relatively limited concept. Everyone knows what a religion is whe... Read More

Key Insights

• ✊ The definition of religion as a belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power does not encompass all religious traditions.
• 🫵 There are competing views on what constitutes religion, with some arguing that it is a modern category invented in the post-17th century period.
• 🔒 Secularism developed from the Protestant conception of religion as a private matter separate from the public sphere.
• 😫 Secularism can be considered a religion in terms of its set of beliefs, values, and principles that shape society and govern the public sphere.
• 🤯 The concept of din in Islam challenges the notion that religion is a modern category and adds to the discussion of what defines a religion.

Questions & Answers

Q: Is secularism a religion?

Secularism can be viewed as a religion in terms of its encompassing set of beliefs, values, and principles that shape society and govern the public sphere.

Q: How does secularism relate to other religions?

Secularism differs from traditional religions in that its focus is on the separation of religion and the state, as well as the neutrality of the state towards various religious beliefs. It upholds a different set of principles and does not involve the worship of a superhuman controlling power.

Q: How does the concept of din in Islam relate to the discussion of secularism as a religion?

Din, often translated as religion in Islam, encompasses beliefs, norms, and practices that a community adheres to, whether or not they are approved by God. It challenges the notion that religion is a modern category and adds to the discussion of what constitutes a religion.

Q: How does secularism impact the organization of society and morality?

Secularism shapes societal norms, provides a basis for ethical frameworks, and influences the formulation of laws. It calls for the separation of religion from the public sphere and often emphasizes values such as individualism, equality, and liberty.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The traditional definition of religion as a belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power does not encompass all religious traditions, such as Buddhism, which does not have a concept of God.

• Scholars have argued that religion is a modern category invented in the post-17th century period, along with the concept of secularism.

• Secularism, as an ideology, developed from the Protestant conception of religion that advocated for its privatization and separation from the public sphere.