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.


History The of 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 are lacking.	Links to other sites: Not yet available
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. It increased in influence in the 19th century, although I do not yet have many details of the early 19th century, early mid 19th century, mid 19th century, late mid 19th century, or late 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, 2008, 2009, and 2010 can be considered. The early 2010s can be connected. 2011 can can be connected. The first quarter 2011 can be connected. January 2011 including 2011 week 1, 2011 week 2, 2011 week 3, 2011 week 4, 2011 week 5, and 2011 week 6 can be connected. February 2011 and March 2011 can be connected. The second quarter 2011, and third quarter 2011 can be connected. Its future is obscure. Sociology Sociology including peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change can be connected to secularism. Peoples of the world Particular nations and major groups of Western Civilization, Asiatic peoples, African peoples, and American Indian peoples can be connected. Particular nations beginning with Iran, Thailand, France, United Kingdom, Italy, and South Korea provide examples. It is present in Western civilization including Mexico. It is present in Anglic peoples including the United States. It is also present in Latin peoples including those of Brazil. It is important among Germanic peoples including Germany It is particularly important in Northeast European peoples such as those of Russia. Asiatic peoples including those of Turkey have adopted it to some extent. Middle Eastern peoples including those of Egypt can be connected. It is present in South Asian peoples such as those ofIndia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Central Asian peoples including some of those of China and Russia can be connected. Oriental peoples including those of China and Japan can be considered. Southeast Asian peoples such as those of Vietnam have some connection. The Southeast Asian Archipelagoes including peoples of the Philippines can be considered. Indonesia can be connected. African peoples including those of Congo DR can be connected. Eastern African peoples including those of Ethiopia can be connected. Western African peoples including those of Nigeria can be connected. American Indian peoples found in Mexicohave less to do with it. Middle American peoples including those found in the Southwest United States can be connected. South American Indian peoples such as those of Brazil are not well connected. North American Indian peoples including those of the United States can be connected. Communities including Tokyo, Seoul, Mexico City, and New York City can be connected. Social structure and change including social types, and social structure will be discussed as the site develops further. Social change including social change factors and social change processes can be connected. Particular changes and movements including the agricultural revolution, agrarian revolution, and industrial revolution can be connected. Other Institutions There are connections to Abrahamic religion including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, and to asiatic religion and pagan religion. There are connections to organization. Secularism is not highly structured or even fragmented; it is for the most part loosely structured. There are few practices particularly associated with secularism, but there are some beliefs that are fairly characteristic. Government including particular governments, government activity, government structure, and law can be connected. Economics including economic systems, industries, and economic activity can be connected. Education including schools, educational organization, cultural institutions, teaching, and research can be connected. This has some connections to families including particular families, kinship, parenting, and marriage. This depends heavily on culture, including conceptual culture, conceptual culture, and material culture. Anthropology including social foundations, demography, physical anthropology, human ecology, human geography, and particular groups can be connected. Personal studies including the human body, psychology, and biography will also be examined. The connections of secularism with science including physics, chemistry, astronomy, earth science, and biology will be examined in more depth as the site develops.

History

The of 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 are lacking.

Links to other sites: Not yet available

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. It increased in influence in the 19th century, although I do not yet have many details of the early 19th century, early mid 19th century, mid 19th century, late mid 19th century, or late 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, 2008, 2009, and 2010 can be considered. The early 2010s can be connected. 2011 can can be connected. The first quarter 2011 can be connected. January 2011 including 2011 week 1, 2011 week 2, 2011 week 3, 2011 week 4, 2011 week 5, and 2011 week 6 can be connected. February 2011 and March 2011 can be connected. The second quarter 2011, and third quarter 2011 can be connected. Its future is obscure.

Sociology

Sociology including peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change can be connected to secularism.

Peoples of the world

Particular nations and major groups of Western Civilization, Asiatic peoples, African peoples, and American Indian peoples can be connected.

Particular nations beginning with Iran, Thailand, France, United Kingdom, Italy, and South Korea provide examples.

It is present in Western civilization including Mexico. It is present in Anglic peoples including the United States. It is also present in Latin peoples including those of Brazil. It is important among Germanic peoples including Germany It is particularly important in Northeast European peoples such as those of Russia.

Asiatic peoples including those of Turkey have adopted it to some extent. Middle Eastern peoples including those of Egypt can be connected. It is present in South Asian peoples such as those ofIndia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Central Asian peoples including some of those of China and Russia can be connected. Oriental peoples including those of China and Japan can be considered. Southeast Asian peoples such as those of Vietnam have some connection. The Southeast Asian Archipelagoes including peoples of the Philippines can be considered. Indonesia can be connected.

African peoples including those of Congo DR can be connected. Eastern African peoples including those of Ethiopia can be connected. Western African peoples including those of Nigeria can be connected.

American Indian peoples found in Mexicohave less to do with it. Middle American peoples including those found in the Southwest United States can be connected. South American Indian peoples such as those of Brazil are not well connected. North American Indian peoples including those of the United States can be connected.

Communities including Tokyo, Seoul, Mexico City, and New York City can be connected.

Social structure and change including social types, and social structure will be discussed as the site develops further. Social change including social change factors and social change processes can be connected. Particular changes and movements including the agricultural revolution, agrarian revolution, and industrial revolution can be connected.

Other Institutions

There are connections to Abrahamic religion including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, and to asiatic religion and pagan religion. There are connections to organization. Secularism is not highly structured or even fragmented; it is for the most part loosely structured. There are few practices particularly associated with secularism, but there are some beliefs that are fairly characteristic.

Government including particular governments, government activity, government structure, and law can be connected. Economics including economic systems, industries, and economic activity can be connected. Education including schools, educational organization, cultural institutions, teaching, and research can be connected. This has some connections to families including particular families, kinship, parenting, and marriage.

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