 Secularity is the state of being separate from religion.  E.g. the government of Canada is secular.  The lines are sometimes blurred between secular and religious activities:  E.g. bathing and eating = secular, however both can be sacramental in some religions. Prayer is usually seen as religious (if it comes from a particular religion), but meditation and spirituality are not necessarily allied to any religion.

 Secular authority:  Police, legal, military (separate from religion – not true in all countries)  Secular education:  Schools not run by religions  Secular states:  Countries that do not favour one religion  Secular music:  Music that is not meant for church use

 Secularism – the belief that religious ideas should not be the basis of politics; religion has no place in public life.  Secularism may be anti- religious or may be ambivalent to it.  Historically, many countries had a state religion.

 Currently only Christianity, Islam and Buddhism are accepted as state religions.

 The emergence of secularism has led to disillusionment about mainstream religion (religions that are accepted by society and accommodate society in return, eg?)  As mainstream religions are pushed out of public life…  Sects – sects are breakaway groups that are in disagreement with the mainstream religion society (e.g. FLDS).  Note: the term sect in Hinduism does not have these negative connotations – it implies devotion to a particular god.

 Cults – religious groups that are even more in disagreement with society and mainstream religions.  The defining features of the cult worldview are:  submission to leader (money?)  polarized view  conforming to the group, total dependence (e.g. Branch Davidians, Heaven’s Gate)

 Fundamentalism –movement began in the early 20 th c (fundamental=well defined beliefs).  Scholars see this as a response to modern life becoming more complex – cling to tradition and answers – fundamentalism is linked to fear.  In N. America, Christian fundamentalism tends to accompany conservative politics (re: abortion, same sex marriage, militarism)  Fundamentalists have a literal approach to scriptures (e.g. creationism) – very influential in the US (and tends to be Protestant).

 Extremism – activities (e.g. beliefs, actions) that are out of the ordinary.  How do you define “ordinary” objectively?  extremism is subjective (e.g. pro-social “freedom fighting” vs anti-social terrorism)  label is not accepted by groups, it is applied to them.  Extremist movements almost always reflect power imbalances in society  used both by the dominant power and the marginalized

 There are many examples of extremists – political and religious (all religions, sadly)  Sometimes they are the dominant group (e.g. majority religion attacks minorities) or the smaller group asserting power.  Hindu extremists attacking Muslims, Christians in India  Buddhist extremists attacking Muslims, Christians in Bangladesh  Hamas in Palestine  Irish Republican Army/Orange Order  Tamil Tigers  Many separatists and nationalists throughout history (related to politics, culture, religion, language, rights)  Taliban in Afghanistan  Ku Klux Klan  Army of God

Catholic Focus – Salt+Light TV

 Canada is a secular state – religion is a personal choice and is not a gov’t responsibility.  Canadians have the right to choose to participate, or not to  This right is entrenched in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982)  Fundamental freedoms:  Conscience/religion  Thought, belief, opinion  Equal protection without discrimination (race, origin, colour, religion, sex, age, ability)

 Freedom of religion and separation of church and state are not absolute in Canada  The existence of a god is recognized in important institutions (e.g. national anthem, constitution)  Faith groups are often invited to ceremonially open and close government events  Catholic schools are constitutionally protected in Ontario  Rights and responsibility (TVO video)

 Religious institutions have charitable status  Supreme Court hears cases, upholds the right of religions to govern themselves using their own rules (e.g. same sex marriage)  Laws against hate propaganda  Sabbath observance  Religious dress (provided it does not interfere with safety)  Refusal of medical care is a limitation, and sometimes refusal to serve (e.g. printing services)

 Islamism is a set of ideologies that state that Islam is “as much a political ideology as a religion”  Some Islamists seek to:  Unite all Muslims in a pan-Islamic union  Eliminate non-Muslim influences (often through religious policing and tight enforcement of Sharia)  Bring Islam to its former glory, before Western influence – with combination of religion and gov’t  Starting in the 1970s, some of these organizations were supported by the West  e.g. US supported the Taliban in their conflict with Russia, Israel supported Hamas because they were preferable to other organizations.  Another influence is oil nations (embargos based on US support for Israel) and Saudi funding of Islamism.