Understanding Secularism Extra Questions Chapter 2 Class 8 Civics
Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism Extra Questions for Class 8 Civics will be helpful to know what can come in the examinations and learning diverse topics. Class 8 Extra Questions will make student confident and knowing about important points given inside the chapter.
Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism Very Short Answer Questions (VSAQs):
1. What happened in the Jewish state of Israel?
Answer
Muslim and Christian minorities were treated badly in the Jewish state of Israel.
2. What is Secularism?
Answer
Secularism refers to the separation of religion from the state. The Indian constitution does not uphold any religion as state religion. Everybody is free to follow his/her own religion.
3. What examples does history provide us on the grounds of religion?
Answer
History provides us with several examples of discrimination, exclusion and persecution on the grounds of religion.
4. What do you mean by ‘freedom to interpret’?
Answer
‘Freedom to interpret’ means an individual’s liberty to develop his own understanding and meaning of the religion that one practises.
5. Why was untouchability banned?
Answer
Untouchability was banned because the practice was based on discrimination. It prevented lower east community or dalits from entering the mainstream of the society.
6. How are Non-Muslims treated in Saudi Arabia?
Answer
In Saudi Arabia, non-Muslims are not allowed to build a temple, church etc. They also cannot gather in a public place for prayers.
7. When do acts of discrimination take place more easily?
Answer
When one religion is given official recognition by the state at the expense of the other religions.
8. Why is Paramjit allowed to drive in pugri?
Answer
Paramjit is a Sikh youth and for him wearing a pugri is a very important part of his religion.
9. What is meant by 'freedom to interpret'?
Answer
The independence that all persons shall have to understand things in their own way. In civics, it refers to a person’s liberty to develop their own understanding and meaning of the religion they practice.
10. When do acts of discrimination take place more easily?
Answer
Acts of discrimination take place more easily when one religion is given official recognition by the state at the expense of the other religions.
Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism Short Answer Questions (SAQs):
1. What are the three objectives of a secular State?
Answer
The three objectives of a secular State are:
• One religious community does not dominate another.
• Some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community.
• The State does not enforce any particular religion nor does it take away the religious freedom of individuals.
2. What is secularism?
Answer
The Indian Constitution contains Fundamental Rights. These rights are very important because they protect us against State power as well as against the tyranny of the majority. The Indian Constitution allows individuals the freedom to live by their religious beliefs and practices as they interpret these. Thus, our Constitution gives religious freedom to all and to maintain it India adopted a strategy of separating the power of religion and the power of the State. Secularism is, in fact, the separation of religion from the State.
3. Why are most religious festivals public holidays?
Answer
The celebration of the religious festival within the school and offices would have been a violation of the government’s policy of treating all religions equally. Government schools and offices cannot promote anyone religion either in their morning prayers or through religious celebrations. Hence, most religious festivals are public holidays.
4. What is meant by principled distance with regard to religion in Indian Secularism?
Answer
In Indian secularism, through the State is not strictly separate from religion it does maintain a principled distance vis-a-vis religion. This means that any interference in religion by the state has to be based on the ideals laid out in the Constitution.
5. How does that Indian state work to prevent religious domination?
Answer
The Indian State prevents religious domination through a strategy of non-interference. This means that in order to respect the sentiments of all religious and not interfere with religious practices, the State makes certain exceptions for particular religious communities. For example, the Indian State recognises
that wearing of pugri is central to a Sikh’s religious practice and in order not to interfere with this, allows an exception in the law.
Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism Long Answer Questions (LAQs):
1. What is the difference between Indian secularism and American secularism?
Answer
In American secularism, the legislature cannot declare any religion as the official religion. Nor can they give preference to one religion. In this country, the separation between state and religion means that neither the state nor religion can interfere in the affairs of one another.
In Indian secularism, the state can intervene in religious affairs. We know how the Indian Constitution
intervened in Hindu religious practices in order to abolish untouchability. However, the state maintains a principled distance vis-a-vis religion.
2. In what different ways does the Indian State work to prevent religious domination?
Answer
Indian secularism works in various ways to prevent religious domination:
• It uses a strategy of distancing itself from religion. The Indian State is not ruled by a religious group. It also does not support any one religion. In our country, government places like law courts,
police stations, government schools and offices are not supposed to demonstrate or promote any one religion.
• The second way in which Indian secularism works to prevent the domination of religion is through a strategy of non-interference. This means that in order to respect the sentiments of all religions and not interfere with religious practices, the State makes certain exceptions for particular religious communities. Just take the example of the Sikh community. For Sikhs, wearing a pugri is a very important part of their religion. The government cannot force them to wear a helmet while driving a two-wheeler.
• The third way in which Indian secularism works to prevent the domination of religion is through a strategy of intervention. Untouchability presents a good example where members of the same religion, i.e. upper caste Hindus, dominate other members, i.e. lower castes within it. In order to prevent this religion-based discrimination of lower castes, our Constitution banned untouchability. Here, the State intervened in religion in order to uproot a social practice that it believed discriminated and excluded, and that violated the Fundamental Rights of the people belonging to lower caste.