are they the same as a cultic religious or none groups of individuals?
in other does secularism finds its root in culticism (cult) and vise versa?
secular societies
are they the same as a cultic religious or none groups of individuals?
in other does secularism finds its root in culticism (cult) and vise versa?
Last edited by cacian; 05-20-2012 at 09:56 AM.
it may never try
but when it does it sigh
it is just that
good
it fly
I don't really understand what definition of secularism you're using.
Secularism is broadly the idea that the state should be neutral on the issue of religion. Different states have come to different terms on what this principle means in practice, but broadly speaking it is just a means of building a cohesive state out of a religiously pluralistic population in terms with the basic principles of liberty.
I don't know what a "secular society" as a group is, or why it would derive from cultism.
"If the national mental illness of the United States is megalomania, that of Canada is paranoid schizophrenia."
- Margaret Atwood
From Wikipedia:
They have nothing to do with cults, they are just the recognizing of a separation of Church and State.In studies of religion, modern Western societies are generally recognized as secular. This is due to the near-complete freedom of religion (beliefs on religion generally are not subject to legal or social sanctions), and the lack of authority of religious leaders over political decisions
Some people use the term "secular society" as a derogatory term for "States that are falling apart due to a rejection of God." But Secular Society is not a cohesive body.
I wrote a poem on a leaf and it blew away...
They have nothing to do with each other. All societies are secular. All cults are a variation of a religion.
shad·ow ing
In agreement.Originally Posted by OrphanPip
I am sure that not all cults are religious.
I meant a cult and seculare is the same because they both remove themselves from what is considered the norms.
it may never try
but when it does it sigh
it is just that
good
it fly
I don't think all societies are secular. There are many that are left strictly religious. If there is one inportant problem we are fighting outside USA, it's precisely that one among a few others like terrorism.
I'm secular. I'm not part of a cult.
I would love to live in a nation in which the government were completely free of religious influence. I think many Americans strive to promote that, but I still don't see how that makes us a cult. Avoiding and protecting citizens from cults is cult behavior?
Hi Varenne, not it is not cult behaviour.
The way I see it cultism has more of a negative influence on people lives because it removes them from real life.
secularism is not so much about what it preaches it is the mechanism of how it does it.
to be secular is to reject something that is as powerful if not as influencial as religion which in most socities is part of daily life, the norms if you like. and so secular means the rejection of this influence and by declaring it so it is in a way removing itself from the bigger picture that is society.
In this sense I see secular and cult mechanism the same.
it may never try
but when it does it sigh
it is just that
good
it fly
Secularism is not a rejection of religion though. Many secular states actively subsidize religious hospitals and schools. The point of secularism is that it protects freedom of conscious, with the recognition that independence from religious law is a necessary condition for not just freedom of conscious but freedom of religion within a religiously pluralistic society.
"If the national mental illness of the United States is megalomania, that of Canada is paranoid schizophrenia."
- Margaret Atwood
Very true. The secular model is in my opinion the best way to avoid all kinds of racist, gender based, and religious inequalities and persecution. Here in the UK the Anglican Church is tearing itself apart about women priests and homosexuality in the church. That's fine - so long as the sensible people can get on and make unbiased laws and run the country.
It's not that I dislike religions. It's just very clear that as soon as some politically motivated leader gets their fingers into the state and religion, then little good will come of it.
It seems to me that, in this thread, totally different meanings are being given to the word "secular."
It would be helpful if Cacian gave a definition of "secular society" and a specific example of one.
Voices mysterious far and near,
Sound of the wind and sound of the sea,
Are calling and whispering in my ear,
Whifflingpin! Why stayest thou here?
Japan is pretty close, 70%-80% of them are "non-believers." It's crowded though.
__________________
"Personal note: When I was a little kid my mother told me not to stare into the sun. So once when I was six, I did. At first the brightness was overwhelming, but I had seen that before. I kept looking, forcing myself not to blink, and then the brightness began to dissolve. My pupils shrunk to pinholes and everything came into focus and for a moment I understood. The doctors didn't know if my eyes would ever heal."
-Pi
Yes that's part of the problem in defining the right answer. I said all society's are secular and in a sense they are. They generally run their affairs free from dogma.
Now also the term "cult" needs defining. My sense of cult may be different from other bloggers on here.
shad·ow ing
"I said all society's are secular and in a sense they are."
Maybe it is Cacian's definition of 'society' that is needed for this thread.
To balance against 'cult' I think 'society' must be used in the sense of 'club' or 'association.' So "Tunbridge Wells Horticultural Society" would be a secular society, whereas the "Tunbridge Wells Church of the Holy Flower" might be a religious society. The latter could well be a cult, but would the former also have characteristics of a cult? At least it might be reasonable to compare the two.
I don't think it would make a lot of sense to compare the "Tunbridge Wells Church of the Holy Flower" with, say, the People's Republic of China.
Voices mysterious far and near,
Sound of the wind and sound of the sea,
Are calling and whispering in my ear,
Whifflingpin! Why stayest thou here?
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