Secularisation is the process where religious institutions and beliefs lose control over worldly matters like the economy, politics, justice, and family. It originally described the transfer of territories from church control to secular authority. Over time, it came to mean the broader shift where various social institutions become distinct from religious influence. Bryan R. Wilson explains that secularisation involves social institutions becoming independent from religious assumptions and operating with autonomy. This process leads to a decline in the influence of supernatural beliefs across different areas of life. For example, scientific and empirical explanations increasingly replace supernatural ones in understanding issues like disease. Secularisation also affects religion itself, as religious practices and doctrines may change to adapt to modern societal needs, reflecting a move away from traditional religious authority.
Secularism, as an ideological goal, emerged after the French Revolution and was coined by George Jacob Holyoake in 1851. It advocates for the separation of religion from state affairs. Secularism promotes the idea that the state should not impose any religion on its citizens and should not favour or be influenced by religious beliefs. It emphasizes that the state should operate based on civil values rather than religious orthodoxy. In modern democratic states, secularism ensures that all groups, regardless of their religious affiliations, are treated equally by the state. It arose partly as a result of secularisation but focuses specifically on establishing a clear separation between religion and government, promoting human welfare through material means rather than religious doctrines.
So, while secularisation is about the decreasing influence of religion in various social areas, secularism is about maintaining a clear separation between religion and government to promote equal treatment and prevent religious bias in state affairs.
Copyright @ Sociology IGNOU.