\n\n<\/span>Secularization: Characteristics, Causes and Effects<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\nSecularisation in Sociology is defined as the transformation of a society from getting influenced by religion to an independent secular one.\u00a0Derived from the Latin word, secular means \u2018present age or generation\u2019 it was first defined by Brian Wilson in 1966 as\u00a0\u201cthe process by which religious thinking, practices, and institutions lose social significance.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0Prior to secularisation, human activity including work, healing, social and jurisdictional procedures was regulated by supernatural preconceptions. The introduction of secularism made these preconceptions lose their power and economy, justice, health, morality, education, and family were operated with considerable autonomy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nM N Srinivas on secularization:<\/span><\/h3>\nM. N. Srinivas had famously defined secularization as follows \u2013 \u2018the term \u2018secularization\u2019 implies that what was previously regarded as religious is ceasing to be such, and it also implies a process of differentiation\u00a0which results in the various aspects of society, economic, political, legal and moral, becoming increasingly discrete in relation to each other\u2019.\u00a0<\/strong>However, according to him, differentiation does not mean disconnection<\/span><\/p>\nThus his definition has two aspects \u2013<\/span><\/h5>\n\n- Notion of religion itself<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
- Differentiation of Institutions<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
He further says, secularization as a process has been subsumed in Westernization which is a much broader term.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>Elements\/ Characteristics of secularisation\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\nThe elements or characteristics of social change are determined by certain principles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Separation of state from affairs of religion thereby creates a distance between religion and society.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Related to work matters.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Personalising religious affairs.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Considering all rituals to be man-made or artificial.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Characteristics of secularisation are:<\/span><\/h3>\nSecular meaning within religion.<\/span><\/h5>\n\n- Modification of religious doctrines and practices to changing needs of members in response to the changing society<\/span><\/li>\n
- Refraining religious institutions and individuals from getting involved with educational, philanthropic, and hospitals<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Rational and reasonable<\/span><\/h5>\n\n- Man is free to choose what they want. Rationalisation is based on making choices according to reason rather than following them blindly<\/span><\/li>\n
- Application of logic, intelligence, and wisdom over emotion and sentiments, thus speeding up secularisation in the society<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Curiosity<\/span><\/h5>\n\n- Every secular man has the right to inquire about the causes and effects of the rituals performed<\/span><\/li>\n
- They have freedom of choice and cannot be influenced to follow rituals blindly<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Scientific temper and outlook<\/span><\/h5>\n\n- Scientific influence forces man to question religion. This makes him a secular individual and an anti-fatalist who is not forced to follow doctrines and events that were initially made with the vision that humans were powerless to change them<\/span><\/li>\n
- The scientific approach revolts against the religious outlook of man from the past<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Modernization\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n\n- While secularisation was brought mere 100 years ago, religious practices were conducted long before<\/span><\/li>\n
- With people getting smarter and more intelligent every decade, modern society has kept itself away from the influence of religious faith and symbols while making everyday life decisions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span>Causes and effects of secularisation\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\nThere are seven causes for secularisation in India\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nEducation<\/span><\/h5>\n\n- Education, western education to be specific, played an important role in diminishing Indian culture, and the practice of western culture became more prominent<\/span><\/li>\n
- Modern education encouraged the generation to seek a scientific attitude in solving problems and the traditional religious beliefs<\/span><\/li>\n
- Marriage is now based on a secular attitude rather than a sacred religious ceremony<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Transportation and communication\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n\n- With modern education came the invention of telephones and railways which gave the opportunity to mix around with people of different countries. This led to an exchange of ideas and the growth of liberal thoughts<\/span><\/li>\n
- Caste system views regarding it changed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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