Secularism

Produced by QualiaSoup for the National Secular Society.

[emill]

This comment section made me loose faith in humanity. Good video, by the way. I always struggled to identify myself as atheist or agnostic, but I am confident that I am a secularist

[ericklopes]

1:35 or "I feel oppressed because I don't have the right to oppress others!"

[humanpowered]

Secularism is not a belief system or a method of promoting a particular moral philosophy. Don't confuse it with liberalism. Instead, its a way of conducting the business of government-it's aim is to preserve individual freedom to believe and practice their religion in their private lives. It does this by banning the creation of laws that are explicitly religious. How would you like it if you lived in a society that forced you to pray five times a day? Or pay money to the Catholic church? Or practice polygamy (ok, don't answer that one). You see, there are no limits to the kinds of infringements on our liberty that religions can dream up. So the only solution is to adopt a set of general values that nearly everyone can agree upon-values that are critical to a healthy society-like freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religious belief/worship, equality under the law, etc. Then, with these unalienable rights established for all (in no way do these rights constitute a religion), we can go ahead and live in accordance with our religious or non religious values, and we can participate in making our country a better place by helping to shape laws that address REAL problems-problems of security, health, prosperity, etc, not problems of pure religiously defined morality. There are too many religions with too many competing moral codes to allow one religion power over all of us. This is the purpose of secularism. Don't attack something that's working for you.

[MyMojosSoDope]

A non religious theist is someone who believes in a god, but has no religious affiliation. Religion has a number of definitions, but usually there is involved in it, a set of beliefs, principals, and world views. A person can still believe in a god without subscribing to any of these.

[الجنوبي-عي]

As a middle eastern I just wanted to say that claiming to be a humanitarian without promoting secularism is something I'd never ever understand, but also claiming to be a humanitarian on the basis of just supporting a secular regime is really hilarious. It is the same whether human rights are being violated by a theocracy or by a faciest dictatorship that promote some elements of secularism. Before embracing or opposing the ideology of any political entity, the entity should at first pass the whole "human rights threshold" without allowing it to make any exception to drop any of them.

[asxnkmb]

Secularism is meant for the freedom of practicing own religion and belief. It also protects the atheist belief due to seperation of state from any religion. But these days, its a means to segregate and impose harsh treatments on the minority religion, while giving protectionism and special treatment to the majority religion.

[Srindal]

Truth is found by the fluctuations of attitudes and laws. Only when you have divided out reality from fiction, and understand its implications do you have the ultimate choice: to leave behind the threads that puppeteer you, or remain bound by those that control you.

Truth is the experience of differences. To be open minded is the key to the door, and the room is enlightenment.

[yoki]

Everyone is equal to God and he wants to help you, it gives you a feeling of meaning to life and gratitude

[NationalSecularSociety]

Andrew and David - QualiaSoup is clearly credited at 2:46; and he kindly produced this series of videos for us.

[ryanziller]

You can never expect people to believe this regardless of the classes which exist in the U.S. constitution.

[SeanRhoadesChristopher]

Jesus describes a world where we will have a choice as to whom we shall serve, but surrounded by both the faithful and the faithless.
The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13.24-30)

[americanliberal]

I just wanna make another point is that secularism is not synonymous with humanism, because it only deals with "not being affiliated with any particular religion". It doesn't deal with the metaphysics of the existence of god(s), nor does it imply some ethical framework, either.

A secular person can also be a "theist". So, therefore, secularism is just an inclusive term for anybody who isn't religious.

Humanism, on the other hand, is just a non-theistic philosophy that emphasizes on promoting the good of humanity. That's it.

A non-religious person doesn't need to subscribe to humanism in order to be "irreligious", because there are plenty of irreligious people who are capable of being moral without being grounded on some philosophy. 🙂

[nshimirimanarenatus]

We only need to accept that freedom is one of human faculty which one does not get because you stand and defend it as a secularist or whoever. Epistemological Relativism has been sawn in our society. Now I only feel contradictions only. To say that secularism does not deny people's religion is also another shallow argument which knocks it self down. If as a secularist I defend freedom but in defending it I weigh heavily on people's minds that it is the only best theory, what does it mean? As mentioned, ".. it does not justify one to teach religion in the skls". One who teaches it is seen as an "imposter" and the one who claims to know what is better for me is he not restricting my freedom. Secularism has its remarkable values and perhaps even the other. With the freedom of choice and of consciousness( moral freedom), let someone embraces his values

[Moribus_Artibus]

Who isnt a secularist? We're not in Afghanistan

[nihalsaeed]

Secularism is a complete freedom of religious faith . one can come and go at his or her will . without holding hate on other faiths and also be respectful to all religion . different religions and have different customs, diets, system and belief . showing respect to all of the above . just like let the jew can wear kippah, muslims can wear turban or skullcap, sikhs can wear their turban, christians can wear cross and hindus can wear tilaka whatever it is at anywhere in this world.

[RealSaudiExplorer]

True secularism means separating morality from state. And, if this really happened, no law can be justified. Therefore, no secular state and no secular government can have any authority on people.

[michujena]

It’s a cool way to combat dogmas and biases without or with religion. But this still ignores biases that are viewed on other visible identities, like race, ability, gender and sexual orientation. This doesn’t eliminate that people will live within privilege and also create biases against other identities including those who are intersectional in this context receive and project their own. So how can we also get to that? I also question why it takes for us to do this rather than nurture a better rational process so you can come to with an individualistic conclusion with skepticism and logic and emotion. let’s not pretend that every aspect of your being is what changes your beliefs not just the theism or atheism you choose to accept. If you can’t accept other people are different and similar to you in different ways then I don’t think cohesion will ever work with or without a secular society.

[brendanbutler]

Should secularism be imposed on others ?

[michelangelope]

I think therefore i exist, therefore i was created or always existed and the creator was created or always existed, therefore God exists. I challenged humanity to debate with me the existence of God.

[윤홍규-tk]

can anyone explain the difference between secularism and secularization?