All articles tagged with #secularism
The film 'The Life of Chuck' depicts a nihilistic view of life and death, emphasizing fleeting moments of joy and human connection in the face of cosmic destruction, but it feels out of sync with the current cultural shift towards spirituality and belief in higher truths, suggesting that true meaning comes from a relationship with God rather than secular nihilism.
A French high school student is being sued by the government for falsely accusing her former principal of assaulting her after he made her remove her headscarf on school premises, leading to death threats against the principal. The incident has sparked debate over secularism and the place of religious symbols in French schools, with the government taking a firm stance against such accusations and pursuing legal action against the student. France has faced tensions over its secularism laws and bans on religious symbols, particularly involving its Muslim population, and has seen high-profile incidents of violence in schools related to Islamist threats.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented an interim budget aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign themes, emphasizing social justice and addressing the needs of the poor, women, youth, and farmers. She described the government’s measures as "secularism in action" and highlighted the fight against corruption. Additionally, she proposed setting up a committee to address challenges arising from population growth and demographic changes, aligning with the BJP ideology. The budget focused on fair resource distribution and systemic inequalities, with a detailed roadmap for the pursuit of Viksit Bharat to be presented in the full budget in July.
The rise of violent Hindu nationalism in India, culminating in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's open rejection of secularism, has been a century-long process fueled by politicians using religion for electoral gain. The upcoming consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya symbolizes the fusion of executive power with Hindu religion, reflecting the culmination of a vision forged by Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. This rise of Hindutva has been marked by political violence, intolerance, and the erosion of secular ideals, with Modi promoting a Hindu theocratic state and the normalization of Hindutva's hard edge in politics and culture.
French President Emmanuel Macron faced criticism for attending a Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony at the Elysee palace, with opponents arguing it violated the principle of secularism. France's laws on state secularism, passed in 1905, emphasize the separation of religion and state. Macron defended his gesture, stating that secularism does not mean erasing religions. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne supported Macron's decision, citing the need to show support for the Jewish community amid rising antisemitism in France. Macron's absence from a previous march against antisemitism had also raised questions.
French President Emmanuel Macron is facing backlash from critics who argue that he breached France's secularism principles by attending a Jewish ceremony at the Élysée Palace. Macron had been invited to receive an award for fighting antisemitism and safeguarding religious freedoms. The lighting of a ceremonial candle during the event sparked criticism, with some arguing that it should not have taken place in an official building. Macron defended his actions, stating that secularism is about respecting everyone's right to believe or not believe. The display of religious signs in public spaces is a sensitive issue in France, where church and state have been strictly separated since 1905. Macron's attendance at religious events, including a mass given by Pope Francis, has previously drawn criticism.
Turkey celebrated 100 years since the birth of the modern republic, but today's nation is far from the secular state envisioned by its founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ushered in a new century that reflects his own image, embracing conservative roots and lifting restrictions on the Islamic headscarf. The country has seen a shift towards a more religious and nationalist identity under Erdogan's leadership, causing deep divisions in Turkish society. Despite this, Turkey has gained influence on the world stage and continues to play a crucial role in international affairs.
As Turkey celebrates its 100th year as a republic, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's attempts to overshadow the secular legacy of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the country's founder, have been met with mixed results. While Erdogan has been unraveling Ataturk's secularism and promoting Islam, studies show that a growing number of young Turks are distancing themselves from religion. Erdogan's rule has also been marked by increasing polarization, ethnic and confessional divisions, declining human rights, and a crackdown on independent media. Despite some reforms, Erdogan has not been able to eclipse Ataturk's historical significance and replace him as the revered figure in Turkey.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey and leader of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) party, has not dismantled Kemal Ataturk's secular order as feared, but rather co-opted and redefined it. Under Erdogan's leadership, Islam has gained a larger presence in public life, with more religious teaching in schools and the empowerment of pious businesspeople. However, Erdogan's efforts have seen limited success, with an increase in non-believers, a decrease in women wearing headscarves, and steady alcohol consumption. Despite his past criticism of Ataturk, Erdogan now embraces him as a symbol of his own power, emphasizing Ataturk's role as a war hero and downplaying his image as a secular reformer. Erdogan's vision combines strategic autonomy from the West, economic expansion, and a whitewashed version of the Ottoman past, appealing to many outside his own party.
France will ban Islamic abayas in schools starting in September, citing the principle of "laicité" or secularism, which prohibits outward signs of religion in schools. The government argues that abayas are a "political attack" and an attempt to convert others to Islam. Critics argue that the ban targets French Muslims and is a violation of religious freedom. The wearing of abayas had previously occupied a grey area, but the education ministry had issued a circular last year allowing schools to ban them if they were worn in a manner that openly displayed a religious affiliation.
The French government's decision to ban the wearing of abaya robes by children in state-run schools has received both applause and criticism. France has a long history of enforcing secularism in schools, and the ban on religious symbols has been extended to include the abaya. Conservative groups welcomed the move, while some criticized it as an "obsessional rejection of Muslims." The decision aims to address breaches of secularism in schools, but critics argue that the abaya is not the main problem and that dialogue with pupils and families is crucial. France previously banned headscarves in schools in 2004 and full face veils in public in 2010.
France's education minister has announced that female students will be banned from wearing abayas, a loose-fitting full-length robe worn by some Muslim women, in state-run schools starting from the new school year in September. France has a strict ban on religious signs in state schools and government buildings, and the ban on abayas follows the previous ban on headscarves in 2004. The decision has sparked a political divide, with right-wing parties supporting the ban and left-wing groups expressing concerns for the rights of Muslim women and girls. The education minister argues that the abaya is a religious gesture that challenges the secular nature of schools, while critics argue that clothing alone should not be considered a religious sign.
France's Education Minister, Gabriel Attal, announced that the abaya, a loose-fitting robe worn by some Muslim women, will be banned in state-run schools. This decision comes as France grapples with updating guidelines to address its growing Muslim minority. The country has a long-standing ban on religious signs in schools, having prohibited headscarves in 2004 and full face veils in public in 2010. The move to ban the abaya is seen as a defense of secularism, a core value in France, aimed at preventing the identification of students' religious affiliations in the classroom.
Turkish President Erdogan pays homage to his executed Islamic predecessor Adnan Menderes on the eve of a historic runoff vote against secular challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Erdogan outperformed expectations in the first round but fell short of an outright victory, setting up Turkiye’s first election runoff. While few believe Erdogan will fail to extend two decades of conservative Islamic-rooted rule to 2028, pro-Kilicdaroglu activists are trying to pierce the air of inevitability. Observers say the polls were competitive but hardly fair, with the criminalisation of some political forces preventing full political pluralism.