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A secular state is a concept of secularism, whereby a state is or purports to be officially neutral in matters of religion, supporting neither religion nor irreligion.[1] A secular state also claims to treat all its citizens equally regardless of religion, and claims to avoid preferential treatment for a citizen from a particular religion/nonreligion over other religions/nonreligion. Secular states do not have a state religion (established religion) or equivalent, although the absence of a state religion does not necessarily mean that a state is fully secular; however, a true secular state should steadfastly maintain national governance without influence from religious factions; i.e. Separation of church and state.[2]
Secular states become secular either upon creation of the state (e.g. United States of America or China) or upon secularization of the state (e.g. France or Nepal). Movements for laïcité in France and for the separation of church and state in the United States defined modern concepts of secularism. Historically, the process of secularizing states typically involves granting religious freedom, disestablishing state religions, stopping public funds to be used for a religion, freeing the legal system from religious control, freeing up the education system, tolerating citizens who change religion or abstain from religion, and allowing political leadership to come to power regardless of religious beliefs.[3]
Not all legally secular states are completely secular in practice.
Many states that nowadays are secular in practice may have legal vestiges of an earlier established religion. Secularism also has various guises which may coincide with some degree of official religiosity. In the United Kingdom, the head of state is still required to take the 1688-enacted Coronation Oath swearing to maintain the Protestant Reformed religion in the United Kingdom and preserve the established Church of England.[8] The United Kingdom also maintains positions in the House of Lords for 26 senior clergymen of the Church of England known as the Lords Spiritual.[9]
The reverse progression can also occur, a state can go from being secular to a religious state as in the case of Iran where the secularized state of the Pahlavi dynasty was replaced by the Islamic Republic (list below). Over the last 250 years, there has been a trend towards secularism.[10][11][12]
1 Transcontinental country. 2 Entirely in Southwest Asia but having socio-political connections with Europe. 3 Partially recognized.
Azerbaijan, Turkey, Ukraine, Yerevan, Soviet Union
Isle of Man, India, Canada, European Union, British Overseas Territories
New York City, United States, American Civil War, Hawaii, Western United States
Hong Kong, Beijing, Macau, Shanghai, Taiwan
Authoritarianism, Islamic state, Islam, Secular state, State religion
Church of England, Buddhism, Islam, Catholic, Roman Catholic Church
Malaysia, Hinduism, Politics of Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak
Brazil, Pedro II of Brazil, Portuguese Empire, Monarchy, Sebastian of Portugal
Religion, Secularism, Laïcité, Latin, Christianity