Religious Nationalism
Religious nationalism denotes the affiliation of a nation to a particular religious dogma or belief. This association can be of two kinds: the control of religion on politics and the politicization of religion. In the politicization aspect, a shared religious belief can be seen as the contributing factor of a common bond, and a sense of national unity among the residents of a particular nation. Another political aspect is the bolster of an identity that is comparable to a shared language, culture and ethnicity (Whitehead, Perry, and Baker). Religious influence on politics is much based on ideologies, in which the interpretation of these ideas inspire political actions and activism. However, as observed in recent decades, there has been a surge of what can be referred to as religious “Global Rebellion” in which there is a rise in rebel overthrows, upsurge in religion based conflict and violence, and an increase in extremist groups (Fradkin). As a result, comparing different demographics and religions can aid one attest why such social upheaving are on the rise. This article will thus focus on the influence of religious nationalism and the possibility of secular nationalism.
Secularism
Secularism refers to a state of religious neutrality or indifference that result from the subsequent segregation of religion from political dialogues, institutions such as schools and civil affairs. The separation of church and state saw the authorization of citizens to freedom from government bodies, which used to impose religious doctrines on them. This, therefore, eliminated the influence of religion on civil matters and politics. In the post-enlightenment period, critical thinkers and intellectual formulated a dismissal of religion in nationalism, which saw the spread of secular nationalism within the developed states. Many of the stringent, traditional religion dogmas were viewed as restrictive from participation in the globalized world. From this, a tendency to see fundamentalism as being anti-Americanism and antimodernist, outdated, terroristic and extreme, and undermining human rights and democracy came (Nafi). Once such a secular society was established in the western world, forces including the UN (United Nations) made attempts to implement it in other parts of the world.
Possibility of Secularism
The idea of conceivable secularism has been proven possible although it has been facing many challenges from fundamentalism. Evidently, it demands an allegiance similar to religious nationalism and promotes unity through cultural constructions (Corey). When nations such as the US were in a transition to secularism, crucial significance was placed on identification with a particular nation. As a result, loyalty toward such a country surpassed religion, culture, and ethnicity to encompass a greater society.
Secularism and Religion in Conflict
Moreover, secularism offers a designated out-group and in-group classification technique and consequently create a sense of shared enemy and opposition among the nation. Both secularism and religion depict this characterist in the on-going conflict of Terror. For instance, terrorist groups use religion to validate their attacks toward the US since they consider them as non-believers and therefore infidels. Likewise, the US drives a fight against terror of those challenging freedom and democracy (Peterson). There is an active utilization of language to depict the opposition as an evil force and alien due to differences in in-group categorization.
Societal Implications of Secularism
Another attribute that may support the possibility of secularism is the fact that it replaces features with which religion utilizes to group individuals with through the process of identity formation. A secular state usually discards, in favor of a more modern alternative, the undermining fundamentalism values that result in the disregard of secular practices (Safi). Religion usually influences the interactions and relations between individuals in the society, their traditions, morals, and beliefs as well as other cultural facets. As critics argue, religion operates as a lens through which an individual would interpret his or her environment. For example, it influences how gender responsibilities are sanctioned. Therefore, with secularism issues such as the rights of women to education as compared to it being a male-only privilege is eliminated from society. However, although secularism disapproves some beliefs associated with religion, it can as well result in societal implications that are negative. For instance, as a result of secularism, many teenagers are disregarding the traditional hierarchy of a family unit (Ram57-73). Consequently, there is less discipline and communications between guardians and their children and thereby leading to substantial peer pressure and delinquency.
Secularism and Fundamentalism
Although secularism and religion can mediate within a nation, profound contradiction often arises between secularists and fundamentalists particularly among Christian and Islamic due to conflicting doctrines that render an individual unable to identify with each concept simultaneously. Competition is usually generated that is impossible to resolve. Fundamentalist holds in great prestige the principles of a particular religion that may forbid one to participate in the modernization process such as law reforms and globalization. Secularists foster the evolution of the ideologies of modernization in States in which to be modern one must have a sense of identity. Similarly, globalization provides new identity associations and sub-categories, which previously were not available. Therefore, to make secularism a possibility with no fear of fundamentalism, nations must learn to address the opposition of indigenous cultures.
Works Cited
Corey, The. "Why American Christians Get So Angry When You Question Nationalism". The Official Blog of Benjamin L. Corey, 2018, http://www.patheos.com/blogs/formerlyfundie/why-american-christians-get-so-angry-when-you-question-nationalism/. Accessed 5 Apr 2018.
Fradkin, Abigail. "Modi's India: caste, inequality, and the rise of Hindu nationalism." The Wilson Quarterly (2015): N_A.
Nafi, Basheer. "Nationalism Vs Islam". Aljazeera.Com, 2018, https://www.aljazeera.com/focus/arabunity/2008/02/200852519420197834.html. Accessed 5 Apr 2018.
Peterson, Scott. "In Turkey, Erdogan Fans an Islamic Nationalism to Build Ottoman-Style Influence." Christian Science Monitor (2017).
Ram, Uri. "Why secularism fails? Secular nationalism and religious revivalism in Israel." International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society 21.1-4 (2008): 57-73.
Safi, M. "Rise of Hindu ‘extremist’spooks Muslim minority in India’s heartland." The Guardian (2017).
Whitehead, Andrew L., Samuel L. Perry, and Joseph O. Baker. "Make America Christian Again: Christian Nationalism and Voting for Donald Trump in the 2016 Presidential Election."
