NCERT CLASS 8 CIVICS Chapter 2: Understanding Secularism

 

1. List the different types of religious practice that you find in your neighbourhood. This could be different forms of prayer, worship of different gods, sacred sites, different kinds of religious music and singing etc. Does this indicate freedom of religious practice?

Different types of religious practices in my neighbourhood include:

• Prayer and worship of different gods and goddesses, such as in temples, churches, and mosques.
• Celebrations of religious festivals and holidays, such as Diwali, Eid, Christmas, and Easter.
• Observance of religious customs and rituals, such as fasting and offering food and flowers to deities.
• Religious music and singing, such as bhajans, hymns, and qawwalis.

This indicates freedom of religious practice as individuals and communities are able to practice their religion freely without interference or persecution.

2. Will the government intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practise infanticide? Give reasons for your answer.

The government will definitely intervene if a religious group says that their religion allows them to practice infanticide. This is because the practice goes against the fundamental principles of human rights and violates the law of the land.

3. Complete the following table:

Objective	Why is this important?	Example of a violation of this objective
One religious community does not dominate another.	This is important to ensure equality and prevent discrimination against minority religious communities.	When members of one religious community prevent members of another religious community from practicing their religion freely.
The State does not enforce any particular religion nor take away the religious freedom of individuals.	This is important to maintain a secular and democratic society where individuals have the freedom to practice their religion without fear of persecution.	When the government favors one religion over another or restricts the religious practices of individuals or communities.
That some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community.	This is important to ensure equality and prevent discrimination within religious communities.	When members of a particular gender or caste are prevented from participating in religious practices or rituals.

 

4. Look up the annual calendar of holidays of your school. How many of them pertain to different religions? What does this indicate?

The annual calendar of holidays in my school includes holidays pertaining to different religions, such as Diwali, Christmas, Eid, and Guru Nanak Jayanti. This indicates that the school recognizes the diversity of its students and respects their religious beliefs and practices.

5. Find out some examples of different views within the same religion.

Examples of different views within the same religion include:

• In Hinduism, there are different beliefs and practices among different sects, such as Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism.
• In Christianity, there are differences in interpretation of religious texts and practices among different denominations, such as Catholicism, Protestantism, and Orthodox Christianity.
• In Islam, there are different schools of thought and interpretations of Islamic law, such as Sunni and Shia Islam.

6. The Indian State both keeps away from religion as well as intervenes in religion. This idea can be quite confusing. Discuss this once again in class using examples from the chapter as well as those that you might have come up with.

The Indian State keeps away from religion by maintaining a secular constitution that guarantees religious freedom to all its citizens. At the same time, the State also intervenes in religion to prevent religious discrimination, promote equality, and protect the fundamental rights of individuals. For example, the government has banned practices such as sati and caste-based discrimination, which were justified on religious grounds. However, this idea of secularism can be confusing as there are many challenges in implementing it effectively, such as balancing the rights of religious minorities with the need for social harmony and preventing the politicization of religion.