Gandhis Ideas in a Predominantly Secular Society - Essay Example

Introduction Modernists have argued that the church has absolutely nothing to do with the and that these two s should be made completely separate. The basis of this argument is that modern society is dynamic. Consequently, expecting members of the public to adhere to certain principles may not be in their best interests. There is a need to examine the viability of Gandhi' teachings and modernist's beliefs in modern society. (Lovett, 2007) Modern culture and separation of the church and the state The US passed a law in the First amendment establishment that required a separation of the Church and the state. The amendment stated that the state must not support any form of religion. This law is the basis of many arguments proposed by supporters of this separation and opponents alike. The heated debate arose out of differing interpretation of the law. However, modern law is such that it considers such as a move pertinent in the process of democracy and religious freedom. Some people have argued that religion is an inherent part of the constitution. As a result, eliminating it completely from the state would be a direct contradiction. Therefore modern societies can still integrate Satyagraha without necessarily possessing a world view. For instance, there are large parts of the state's proceedings that still go on after acknowledging the presence of God and these practices indicate Satyagraha. Most legislative meetings proceed after prayer and the state currency refers to the word 'God'. Additionally, states can still practice Satyagraha by letting members of the population practice their religious beliefs in public but they need not make this a rule for all members of the public. By doing this, the State will still be respecting its citizens' religions without necessarily restricting it. It is also possible to practice Satyagraha today by allowing specific members of the population a chance to recite the oath of allegiance despite the fact that it mentions the word God. However, the State may not necessarily have to make this recital a mandatory requirement in schools. The government of today needs to allow its people the right to practice their religion or to indicate their religious ordinances without infringing upon other people's rights. As long as no single person is required to engage in a particular religion while condemning another, than religious practices should be allowed in public. In fact, some people argue that when modern governments completely eliminate any form of religious symbol or expression in the public, then what they are really saying is that the beliefs held by atheists are more important than those held by other religions. Consequently, the government should allow fair representation of these issues given the fact that all people within the state have the right to practice their religion. (Lovett, 2007) Benefits, limitations and problems of applying Gandhi's Satyagraha in secular society today Gandhi was an outstanding leader during his time because of the fact that he had an ability to apply foundational religious teachings in the political and social context of his time. He had understood the underlying truths behind most religions and believed that they were instrumental to prevailing social and political environments. Gandhi believed that there was no way one could separate the state and the religion because the law was founded upon religion. In relation to this, the Indian leader asserted that religion assisted man to understand his place in the world. Additionally, he believed that religion is the foundation for understanding reality in the world today. Some of the issues that Gandhi submitted can be applied in the secular environment. Christianity can make its contribution to political life by providing a basis for understanding the relationship between man and his environment. Additionally, the same can be said about Hinduism and Islam with regard to the latter mentioned issue. Modern society can apply the same aspects into political life and reap their benefits. (Merton, 2006) Gandhi explained that the purpose of politics was to adhere to order which was an important phenomenon in all religious teachings. He asserted that it can be possible to become active in one's life through politics without resorting to violence by letting God take care of the results. He was trying to say that man should participate in politics as a way of adhering to God's will. He believed that this can be seen as way of bearing witness to the truth. If these principles are applied in the world today, then they can result in greater harmony within society. This is because politicians will not get involved in politics to pursue security and power. Instead, they will be doing it as a form of religious worship where there is less emphasis on outcomes because these are in God' hands. Such an approach brings about peace and tranquility in society. Ways in which the Satyagraha can exist without a religious worldview Modern religious adherents today regard politics as an entirely separate institution. To them, this a rather ambiguous sphere that should be kept at arms length. However, Gandhi's Satyagraha is in firm opposition to this kind of approach. The Satyagraha requires that political participants be devoted and dedicated to pursing the truth. Politicians today can adopt such a perspective. They can embrace spiritual wisdom regardless of the source it comes from and this implies that they will have higher levels of spirituality in the state. Many religions have been guided by the affirmation that this approach is a depiction of fanatism. However, they are deeply mistaken. Satyagraha should be more practical than it is currently. If religious institution stopped regarding it as a myth or theoretical aspect, then chances are there would be greater levels of satisfaction in the public realm. The fundamental principle behind the Satyagraha is the belief in offering service. There is no mention of tactics or other form of manipulations to achieve results. Consequently, politicians can apply this principle even without the presence of a religious worldview. There are always better results when the focus is on the journey rather than the destination. Some of the most corrupt leaders today have simply been mere operators and tacticians. If leaders adopted a spiritual aspect to their duties and obligations, then they would be more productive. (Merton, 2006) Another principle in Satyagraha is the belief in non-violence. Despite the fact that there are many adherents to this latter term, there is still a fundamental difference between how Gandhi's interpretation and modernists' interpretation. For instance, Gandhi believed that one should not preach peace when they did not believe in that principle. He asserted that there should be a merger of the two issues. One should only talk bout on violence once it become their guiding principle. All their actions should revolve around this truth. Gandhi gave an exemplary demonstration of what this means. He used peaceful means to address British occupation in India. As a result, he demonstrated op today's leaders that one can indeed practice what they preach. Modern leaders can apply the same principle of peace without necessarily linking it to religion. Gandhi was not directly associated with Christianity, but he understood its teachings and applied them, in his political life thus indicating that it is possible to do so even today. Conclusion However, Gandhi's teachings indicate the opposite view. He believed that leaders should be dedicated o the pursuance of truth. Furthermore, those truths are founded upon religious teachings. The same principles can be applied today without adopting a religious worldview. Leaders can draw upon religious teaching such as non-violence and service. Reference: Lovett, M. (2007): Church and State not always separate, retrieved from http://www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/ accessed on 11th June 2008 Merton, T. (2006): The Gentle Revolutionary; Ramparts Publishers, San Francisco, p 112 Read More