Q 1 –What is religion?
Ans – Religion is the personal beliefs and practices relating to the divine. It is also people’s beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of the divine.
Q 2 – Name the major religions practiced all over the world.
Ans – Buddhism; Christianity; Hinduism; Islam and Judaism are the major religions practiced all over the world.
Q 3 – What is secularism?
Ans –
- Secularism is the belief that no one should be discriminated on the basis of the religion he or she practises.
- Every citizen, irrespective of which religion he or she follows, is equal in the eyes of the laws and policies that govern the Nation.
Q 4 – State the 4th point of the Fundamental Rights of the Indian constitution.
Ans –The 4th point of the ‘Fundamental Rights’ is the Right to Freedom of Religion ‘Every person has the right to practice, profess and propagate the religion of their choice’.
Q 5 – Secularism is separating religion from the power of the state. Discuss why it is vital to separate the power of the state from religious practices.
Ans – Secularism is very essential for the smooth functioning of a democratic country. In today’s world, people go to other countries to work or do business. So you will find that people of different religions live in the same locality.
In the event of people of different religions living together in the same locality, there is a possibility that people belonging to one particular religion being in the majority. If this majority has access to State power, there is the likelihood that it will use it to discriminate and dominate the minority group which practices another religion.
In a secular democratic country any form of domination or tyranny, based on religion is in violation of the rights that a democratic society guarantees to each and every citizen irrespective of their religion.
Therefore it is important not to allow anyone religion, even though it may be the majority, to violate the fundamental rights of all citizens. If this right has to be maintained it is vital to separate the power of the state from religious practices.
Q 6 – What are the other reasons for separating the power of the State from religion?
Ans – People should have the freedom to leave the religion they have been practicing and join another religion.
They should also have the freedom to interpret religious teachings differently. It is for these reasons that it is important to separate the power of the state from religion.
Q 7 – What do you understand from the statement ‘freedom to interpret religious teachings differently’ in context with the practice of untouchability?
Ans – Untouchability refers to the social practice of excluding a minority group (untouchables) by regarding them as “ritually polluted” and segregating them from the mainstream by social custom. According to the Indian constitution, everyone has the freedom to interpret religious teachings in their own way. Similarly, the Dalits who are called untouchables have the freedom to interpret religion in their own way. The Indian constitution has abolished ‘Untouchability’.
Q 8 – What are the objectives of the Indian constitution that advocates secularism?
Ans – The objectives of the Indian constitution that advocates secularism are…
One religious community should not dominate another. Some members of a religious community should not dominate other members of the same religious community. The State should not enforce any particular religion nor take away the religious freedom of individuals.
Q 9 – What are the strategies followed by the Indian government to establish secularism?
Ans – The strategies followed by the Indian government to establish secularism are..
- Strategy of distancing itself from religion
- Strategy of non-interference
- Strategy of intervention
Q 10 – State Article: 17 in the Right to Equality, in the Indian constitution.
Ans – Article 17 in the Right to Equality is related to the ‘Abolition of Untouchability.’ It states:
- “Untouchability” is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden.
- The enforcement of any disability rising out of “Untouchability” shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.”
Q 11 – Mention a few points in the US constitution related to secularism.
Ans – According to the U.S. Constitution, the legislature cannot declare any religion as the official religion. The legislature cannot give preference to one religion and neither the State nor religion can interfere in the affairs of one another.
Q 12 – Which country passed a law banning students from wearing any conspicuous religious or political sign or symbols?
Ans – France passed this law.
Q 13 – When did France face a shortage of workers?
Ans – In the 1960’s France had faced a shortage of workers.
Q 14 – What has been granted by the Indian Constitution for the religious communities regarding the institution?
Ans –The Indian Constitution grants the right to religious communities to set up their own schools and college.
Q 15 – What can be seen as the government policy of treating all religions equally in regard to government schools?
Ans –The celebration of the religious festivals within the school is prohibited.
Q 16 – State any one of the objectives that ensure that the Indian Constitution mandates the Indian State to be secular.
Ans – One religious community does not dominate another
Q 17 – What is secularism in the Indian context?
Ans – India adopted a strategy separating the power of religion and the power of the State, which is called secularism.
Q 18 – What does the Indian constitution bans completely?
Ans – Indian constitution bans untouchability.
Q 19 – What type of strict separation exists in USA?
Ans – There is a strict separation between religion and state in the USA.
Q 20 – Define Coercion.
Ans – It means to force someone to do something. It also refers to the force used by a legal authority like state.
Q 21 – What does secularism refer to in this chapter?
Ans – Secularism refers to the separation of religion from the state.
Q 22 – What is mandatory for the Indian state in respect to Indian secularism and its mentioning in the Indian constitution.
Ans – It is mandatory for the Indian state to be secular.
Q 23 – What restrictions are put on the government schools in a way to make India a properly secular state?
Ans – They are restricted to promote any religions either in morning prayer or through religious celebrations.
Q 24 – On what type of other strategy does Indian secularism work.
Ans – Indian secularism also works on the strategy of non-interference.
Q 25 – Give the best example of an exception made by the state for particular religious communities in order to respect the sentiments of all religions and not interfere with religious practices.
Ans – Example is A Sikh while riding a bike can wear Pugri (turban) instead of a helmet.
Q 26 – In which year does France passed the law banning the wearing of any conspicuous religious or political signs?
Ans –In 2004
Q 27 – How does the children in government school of USA have to begin their school day?
Ans – In USA the most children in government schools have to begin their school day reciting the 6 pledge of Allegiance.
Q 28 – Which community is taken or granted an exception from wearing helmets in India?
Ans – Sikh community.
Q 29 – According to the first amendment of the US Constitution what does it prohibit?
Ans –The first amendment of the US Constitution prohibits the legislature from making laws “respecting an establishment of religion” or that prohibit the free exercise of religion”. The meaning of word establishment is that the legislature cannot declare any religion as the official religion nor can they give preference to one religion as the official religion.
Q 30 – How does Indian State prevent religious dominations by using the strategy of distancing itself from religion?
Ans –The Indian State works in various ways to prevent domination and one of the ways is by using a strategy of distancing itself from religion. The Indian State is not ruled by a religious group and nor does it support any one religion. In India government spaces like law courts, police stations, government, schools and offices are not suppressed to display or promote any one religion.
Q 31 – What will be the consequences of the time if majority religious groups will have access to state power?
Ans – If majority religious groups have the access to state power, they misuse their power against other religions. The majority could quite easily prevent minorities from practicing their religions, can create tyranny and violate the Fundamental Rights.
Q 32 – How does the Indian Constitution mandate the Indian State to be secular?
Ans –The Indian Constitution mandates that the Indian State should be secular. According to the Constitution, only a secular State can realize its objectives to ensure the following:
1. That one religious community does not dominate another.
2. some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community.
3. That the State does not enforce any particular religion not does it take away the religious freedom of individuals.
Following the Indian Constitution.
1. The Indian State works in various way to prevent the above domination.
2. First it was the strategy of distancing itself from religion.
3. Second the Indian secularism works to prevent domination through a strategy of non-interference.
4. Third way in which Indian secularism works to prevent domination is through a strategy of intervention.
Q 33 – What happened in the Jewish state of Israel?
Ans – Muslim and Christian minorities were treated badly in the Jewish state of Israel.
Q 34 – What examples does history provide us on the grounds of religion?
Ans – History provides us with several examples of discrimination, exclusion and persecution on the grounds of religion.
Q 35 – What do you mean by ‘freedom to interpret’?
Ans – ‘Freedom to interpret’ means an individual’s liberty to develop his own understanding and meaning of the religion that one practises.
Q 36 – Why was untouchability banned?
Ans – Untouchability was banned because the practice was based on discrimination. It prevented the lower east communities or Dalits from entering the mainstream of the society.
Q 37 – How are Non-Muslims treated in Saudi Arabia?
Ans – In Saudi Arabia, non-Muslims are not allowed to build a temple, church, etc. They also cannot gather in a public place for prayers.
Q 38 – When do acts of discrimination take place more easily?
Ans –When one religion is given official recognition by the state at the expense of the other religions.
Q 39 – Why is Paramjit allowed to drive in pugri?
Ans – Paramjit is a Sikh youth and for him wearing a pugri is a very important part of his religion.
Q 40 – What is meant by ‘freedom to interpret’?
Ans – The independence that all persons shall have to understand things in their own way. In civics, it refers to a person’s liberty to develop their own understanding and meaning of the religion they practice.
Q 41 – When do acts of discrimination take place more easily?
Ans – Acts of discrimination take place more easily when one religion is given official recognition by the state at the expense of the other religions.
Q 42 – What are the three objectives of a secular State?
Ans –The three objectives of a secular State are:
• One religious community does not dominate another.
• Some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community.
• The State does not enforce any particular religion nor does it take away the religious freedom of individuals.
Q 43 – Why are most religious festivals public holidays?
Ans –The celebration of the religious festival within the school and offices would have been a violation of the government’s policy of treating all religions equally. Government schools and offices cannot promote anyone religion either in their morning prayers or through religious celebrations. Hence, most religious festivals are public holidays.
Q 44 – What is meant by principled distance with regard to religion in Indian Secularism?
Ans –In Indian secularism, through the State is not strictly separate from religion it does maintain a principled distance vis-a-vis religion. This means that any interference in religion by the state has to be based on the ideals laid out in the Constitution.
Q 45 – How does that Indian state work to prevent religious domination?
Ans – The Indian State prevents religious domination through a strategy of non-interference. This means that in order to respect the sentiments of all religions and not interfere with religious practices, the State makes certain exceptions for particular religious communities. For example, the Indian State recognizes that wearing of pugri is central to a Sikh’s religious practice and in order not to interfere with this, allows an exception in the law.
Q 46 – What is the difference between Indian secularism and American secularism?
Ans – In American secularism, the legislature cannot declare any religion as the official religion. Nor can they give preference to one religion. In this country, the separation between state and religion means that neither the state nor religion can interfere in the affairs of one another. In Indian secularism, the state can intervene in religious affairs. We know how the Indian Constitution intervened in Hindu religious practices in order to abolish untouchability. However, the state maintains a principled distance vis-a-vis religion.