Class 8 Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism

Question 1.

What examples does history provide us on the grounds of religion?

Answer:

History provides us with several examples of discrimination, exclusion, and persecution on the grounds of religion.

Question 2.

What happened in the Jewish state of Israel?

Answer:

Muslim and Christian minorities were treated badly in the Jewish state of Israel.

Question 3.

How are non-Muslims treated in Saudi Arabia?

Answer:

In Saudi Arabia, non-Muslims are not allowed to build a temple, church etc. They also cannot gather in a public place for prayers.

Question 4.

What does the term ‘secularism’ refer to?

Answer:

The term ‘secularism’ refers to the separation of the power of religion from the power of the State.

Question 5.

What do you mean by the freedom to interpret’?

Answer:

‘Freedom to interpret’ means an individual’s liberty to develop his own understanding and meaning of the religion that one practices.

Question 6.

Why cannot government schools celebrate religious festivals?

Answer:

Government schools cannot celebrate religious festivals because it will be a violation of the government’s policy of treating all religions equally.

Question 7.

Why is Paramjit allowed to drive in pagri?

Answer:

Paramjit is a Sikh youth and for him wearing a pagri is a very important part of his religion.

Question 8.

How is Indian secularism different from that of American secularism?

Answer:

Unlike Indian secularism, there is a strict separation between religion and the State in American secularism.

Question 9.

What is meant by ‘principled distance’?

Answer:

This means that any interference in religion by the State has to be based on the ideals laid out in the Constitution.

Question 10.

What are the three objectives of a secular State?

Answer:

The three objectives of a secular State are:

• One religious community does not dominate another.
• Some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community.
• The State does not enforce any particular religion nor does it take away the religious freedom of individuals.