Secularism as an Emerging Social Movement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Secularism as an Emerging Social Movement - Essay Example Secularization is not a result of widening gap between the church and the state, but a slow change in the outlook of a culture that sees and perceives the established religion in a different way. Is Secularism a New Trend and a Social Phenomenon? The concept of secularism has remained a historical phenomenon in the American mainstream of personal and social life since many hundred years. Above all, it has remained homogenous or even anomalous within the American way of life. However, the secular way of thinking was really kept confined out of emerging political forums for at least a century. In fact, equilibrium was maintained in two diverging viewpoints, one that laid full belief in the tenets of Christianity, and the other that veered a bit away from practice of religion in political and public life. Article 6, Section 3 declares that "No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States;' and the First Amendment guarantees that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." (Kellman, 2004) Is Secularism an American way of life? It is very difficult to answer as this phenomenon is regulated to a certain section of people and their beliefs. However religion is increasingly being perceived as one of the major factor in, how you look at the state of the nation in today’s turbulent times. There is a distinct possibility of a large number of people relating the concepts of secularism vis-Ã  -vis religion, to the existing political scenarios and emerging world politics.