Sakshi Education
By Srirangam Sriram, Sriram's IAS, New Delhi.
It is a French term meaning secularism. French Constitution discourages religious involvement in government affairs, especially religious influence in the determination of state policies; it also forbids government involvement in religious affairs. Secularism in France does not prohibit a right to the free exercise of religion.
The word laicite has been used, from the end of the 19th century to mean the freedom of public institutions, especially primary schools, from the influence of the Catholic Church in countries where it had retained its influence, in the context of the secularization process. Today, the concept covers other religious movements as well.
Proponents assert the French state secularism is based on respect for freedom of thought and freedom of religion. Thus the absence of a state religion, and the subsequent separation of the state and Church, is considered by proponents to be a prerequisite for such freedom of thought.
Laicite relies on the division between private life, where religion belongs, and the public sphere, in which each individual should be a simple citizen equal to all other citizens, devoid of ethnic, religious or other particularities.
According to this concept, the government must refrain from taking positions on religious doctrine that favours any one group.
The word laicite has been used, from the end of the 19th century to mean the freedom of public institutions, especially primary schools, from the influence of the Catholic Church in countries where it had retained its influence, in the context of the secularization process. Today, the concept covers other religious movements as well.
Proponents assert the French state secularism is based on respect for freedom of thought and freedom of religion. Thus the absence of a state religion, and the subsequent separation of the state and Church, is considered by proponents to be a prerequisite for such freedom of thought.
Laicite relies on the division between private life, where religion belongs, and the public sphere, in which each individual should be a simple citizen equal to all other citizens, devoid of ethnic, religious or other particularities.
According to this concept, the government must refrain from taking positions on religious doctrine that favours any one group.Published date : 13 Nov 2020 01:08PM
