Secularism


Secularism is not considered a religion at all by many people. It includes atheism, agnosticism, secular humanism, and related belief systems. These belief systems are included and grouped here because they deals with the same kinds of things that organized religion does. Generally, these are belief systems and lack an organization as such, though they influence other institutions of society just as much as organized religion does. Because of the lack of organizational structure, secularism is more difficult to identify than traditional religion, and must be identified more by the philosophies and beliefs of its adherents.	Sapience Home Site map About Sapience Institutions Religion Religious Traditions

Secularism is not considered a religion at all by many people. It includes atheism, agnosticism, secular humanism, and related belief systems. These belief systems are included and grouped here because they deals with the same kinds of things that organized religion does. Generally, these are belief systems and lack an organization as such, though they influence other institutions of society just as much as organized religion does. Because of the lack of organizational structure, secularism is more difficult to identify than traditional religion, and must be identified more by the philosophies and beliefs of its adherents.

Content

1700-1765 CE. European warfare extends to conflicts in and among colonies in Americas and Asia. The "Enlightenment", a scientific and philosphical movement, begins increasing skepticism regarding religious belief.
1859 Darwin publishes his "Origin of Species"
c. 1867 Marx publishes "Das Kapital", his analysis of sociology, politics, and economics. This analysis is highly critical of religion.
1871 Darwin publishes his "Descent of Man"
1895 - 1898 Freud publishes work on psychoanalysis and dream interpretation.
1905 Freud publishes his theories of sexuality and its influence on psychological development.
1913 - 1930 Freud extends his psychoanalytic theories to the study of society.
1917 CE. Lenin leads a revolution that overthrows the Russian monarchy, takes control of the Russian Empire, renaming it the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and adapts Marxism to be the state-approved ideology.
c. 1945 - 1953 Stalin establishes USSR as a major world power, acquires nuclear weapons technology, and begins a largely ideological struggle with the United States and allies known as the "Cold War."
1949 Mao defeats Nationalist forces and becomes dictator of the Peoples Republic of China as a Communist state allied with the USSR.
c. 1950s Korean War. Korea is divided into Communist and non-Communist parts. A Chinese-backed attempt to forcibly unify the country is resisted largely by the United States.
c. 1962-1973 US involved in Vietnam war.
c. 1965 Pincus publishes work on human endocrine system that leads to development of a birth-control pill.


The connections of secularism with science including physics, chemistry, astronomy, earth science, and biology will be examined in more depth as the site develops. Personal studies including the human body, psychology, and biography will also be examined. Anthropology including social foundations, demography, physical anthropology, human ecology, human geography, and particular groups can be connected. This depends heavily on culture, including material culture, conceptual culture, and behavioral culture	Links to other sites: Not yet available
This has strong connections to families, education, economics, and government. There are various beliefs and practices more strongly associated with secularism than other traditions. Its organization is primarily unstructured, although there are fragmented groups. It is not a highly structured belief system. There are connections to Abrahamic, asiatic, and pagan religion. Sociology including social structure and change will be discussed as the site develops further. Communities including Tokyo, Seoul, Mexico City, and New York City can be connected. Its role in peoples of the earth including Asiatic peoples, and African peoples will also be discussed. Particular nations beginning with Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Russia provide examples. It is present in Western civilization including the United States. Asiatic peoples including those of India have adopted it to some extent. Oriental peoples including those of China can be considered. American Indian peoples found in the United States have less to do with it. The history of secularism is obscure. I am not sufficiently familiar with it in prehistory or antiquity. It seems to have roots in classical and medieval history. In early classical times, it seems to have begun with dissatisfaction with Greek religion. In late classical times it had some influence on the develooment of Christianity. In early medieval, and late medieval times it does not seem to have been public, but details re lacking. Details of modern history are somethat obscure. It was not highly important in the 16th or 17th century, but in the 18th century, it began to be openly advocated, and increased in influence in the 19th century. In the 20th century, various versions of it have become prominent. In the early 20th century, the Communist Revolution in Russia gave it considerable stature. In the early-mid 20th century, it gained considerable influence in China. By the mid-20th century, non-Communist varieties were becoming increasingly influential elsewhere. In the late-mid 20th century, these varieties began to gain yet more influence. In the late 20th century, Communist rule collapsed in Russia, but remants of Communism survived. Secularism has become highly important in the early 21st century also. It can be examined in more detail in the early 2000s. Developments of the late 2000s including 2006 and 2007 can be considered. Its future is obscure.

The connections of secularism with science including physics, chemistry, astronomy, earth science, and biology will be examined in more depth as the site develops. Personal studies including the human body, psychology, and biography will also be examined. Anthropology including social foundations, demography, physical anthropology, human ecology, human geography, and particular groups can be connected. This depends heavily on culture, including material culture, conceptual culture, and behavioral culture

Links to other sites: Not yet available

This has strong connections to families, education, economics, and government.

There are various beliefs and practices more strongly associated with secularism than other traditions. Its organization is primarily unstructured, although there are fragmented groups. It is not a highly structured belief system. There are connections to Abrahamic, asiatic, and pagan religion.

Sociology including social structure and change will be discussed as the site develops further. Communities including Tokyo, Seoul, Mexico City, and New York City can be connected. Its role in peoples of the earth including Asiatic peoples, and African peoples will also be discussed. Particular nations beginning with Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Russia provide examples. It is present in Western civilization including the United States. Asiatic peoples including those of India have adopted it to some extent. Oriental peoples including those of China can be considered. American Indian peoples found in the United States have less to do with it.

The history of secularism is obscure. I am not sufficiently familiar with it in prehistory or antiquity. It seems to have roots in classical and medieval history. In early classical times, it seems to have begun with dissatisfaction with Greek religion. In late classical times it had some influence on the develooment of Christianity. In early medieval, and late medieval times it does not seem to have been public, but details re lacking. Details of modern history are somethat obscure. It was not highly important in the 16th or 17th century, but in the 18th century, it began to be openly advocated, and increased in influence in the 19th century. In the 20th century, various versions of it have become prominent. In the early 20th century, the Communist Revolution in Russia gave it considerable stature. In the early-mid 20th century, it gained considerable influence in China. By the mid-20th century, non-Communist varieties were becoming increasingly influential elsewhere. In the late-mid 20th century, these varieties began to gain yet more influence. In the late 20th century, Communist rule collapsed in Russia, but remants of Communism survived. Secularism has become highly important in the early 21st century also. It can be examined in more detail in the early 2000s. Developments of the late 2000s including 2006 and 2007 can be considered. Its future is obscure.