SECULARIZATION: OF THE STATE, OF SOCIETY, OF EDUCATION - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The s ecularización is the process by which something or someone leaves their religious character and becomes something secular. In this way, the symbols, influences or behaviors linked to religion are put aside, producing a dissociation from the religious fact.

Secular is a term from the Latin saeculare, which meant "world". He was referring to what can be grasped through the senses and reason; thus, it established a clear difference with the visions of the world marked by religious faith.

Secular countries - Source: Edward nz at the English Wikipedia, from Wikimedia Commons

Today the concept of secularization is used in several different areas; for example, in politics it explains and describes the end of the union between the State and the Church. The same happens with society, since it has gone from a context in which religion was the most important factor, to another in which religion is only lived individually.

Finally, secularization in education has been important, not only because networks of public schools appeared when it was a sector dominated by ecclesiastical institutions, but also because religious education is no longer compulsory and secular values ​​prevail.

State

Some authors consider that one of the main characteristics of the creation of modern states was the struggle of political power to become independent from the ecclesiastical.

With few exceptions, for centuries all countries were confessional, with a single official religion. This, in addition, served to legitimize the political rulers.

The situation began to change when ideas based on reason gradually prevailed. At that time, with differences in pace, nations began a process of secularization.

First steps

Already in ancient Rome and other ancient civilizations secularizing processes were experienced. The intention was always the same: to clearly differentiate what was political power from that exercised by religious authorities.

It was not until the 18th century that the state really began to become independent from religion. Until then, nations were monarchies whose king was chosen by God for the position.

The Enlightenment, which places reason as the main guiding principle, became the most influential ideology for the secularization of the State. It is not surprising that the first countries to start this process were France and Germany, in which the enlightened ideas had been very strong.

The enlightened claim was to fight mysticism, replacing it with science and knowledge.

The evolution towards secular states was not peaceful. For example, the French Revolution had a component of struggle between the secular and the religious. The resistance of the absolutist states was also, in part, the resistance of the Church to cease to have power and influence.

Already in the Modern Age the States were managing to eliminate or limit the ecclesiastical power. Thus, the laws stopped being marked by the religious and a certain freedom of worship was established.

Present

Today, in the Western world, the Church and the State occupy different spaces; however, the ties have not been completely severed. The ecclesiastical authorities still retain some power to influence the rulers.

This remnant is reflected in the support for the economic support of the Church, something very common in all countries. In the same way, the Church sometimes tries to impose its moral vision on governmental laws, although with uneven results.

In other areas of the world, such as the Middle East, secularization has not arrived. In this way, religious and civil laws are the same and the ecclesiastical power retains influence over the country's politics.

Of the society

Philosophers often discuss the relationship between secular society and advanced society. For most of them - as for historians - modern societies are more complex, individualistic and rationalized. Ultimately, this makes it more secular, leaving religious beliefs in the private sphere.

In fact, it is not entirely clear if the loss of power of the Church is due to the fact that the society is more secular or, on the contrary, if the society is more secular due to less ecclesiastical influence in the political sphere.

Religion-society separation

Today's society has separated its different facets from the religious fact. From art to science, through economics, culture and politics, nothing is directly related to religion anymore.

Until even the 20th century, there was still a link between beliefs and different social aspects. However, there has been a progressive rationalization of all these areas, leaving religion apart.

Today you can see many examples in which religion has become more of a cultural tradition than something linked to beliefs. In Western Europe festivities or events of Christian origin are preserved, but many of the participants experience it as something other than religious fact.

In that area of ​​the world there has been a pronounced decline in religious practices: from marriages by this rite to priestly vocations. This has meant that the Church no longer has the ability to pressure the State that it once had, accentuating the secularizing process.

However, other areas of the planet, Christian or not, still have a very considerable presence of religion in society. There is even talk of the possibility of a post-secular society.

Private option

One of the bases that explain the secularization of society is that religion has passed into the private sphere. It is, therefore, a belief that is lived in a personal, intimate way, without being reflected in public behavior.

Furthermore, this has been accompanied by freedom of worship. There is no longer a single religion, much less an official one. Today, each individual can have the beliefs they want, or even have none.

Of Education

The secularization of education is both a cause and a consequence of the equivalent process in society. In this field, the first great change occurred when the Church ceased to be the only one with educational centers.

When different states, in different historical periods, began to open colleges, one of the consequences was the loss of ecclesiastical influence.

Concept

Faced with religious education - in which the beliefs in each subject underlie -, secular education is neutral. Its objective is to teach children objectively, only with what science marks.

In addition, this type of education aims to be more inclusive and give the same teachings to all students. There is no type of discrimination based on beliefs or other personal traits.

Role of religion

There are many different secular educational models. One of the questions present in all is what to do with religious teachings. The solutions are varied, depending on the tradition of each country.

It can be noted that, in most countries, governments have regulated the teaching of religion. Whether entering within the study plans or without counting for the school record, there are religion classes within schools. In any case, students have the right to choose to take that subject or not.

References

1. From Conceptos.com. Secularization concept. Obtained from deconceptos.com
2. Trends 21. Secularization of Western society, where did the change take place? Obtained from trends21.net
3. Carreño, Pedro. The secularization of the State. Retrieved from aporrea.org
4. Brooks, David. The Secular Society. Retrieved from nytimes.com
5. Zuckerman, Phil. What Does "Secular" Mean ?. Retrieved from psychologytoday.com
6. Grimes, David Robert. Richard Dawkins is right: children need secular education, where all rights are respected. Retrieved from irishtimes.com
7. Khan, Seema. Religion and Democracy in Secular States. Recovered from gsdrc.org
8. National Secular Society. What is Secularism ?. Retrieved from secularism.org.uk