"Religion creates a false consciousness for the proletariat. It distorts the proletariat's view of reality, so they do not realise their true exploitation." - Karl Marx.
Introduction
Throughout history, religion has inspired cultures and societies. It has significantly influenced art, medicine, and architecture. While religion is a deeply personal and cultural element of society, its role in politics motivates political decisions and policies, which eventually leads to division, inequality, and authoritarianism. The ruling classes use religion's influence in state affairs to divert attention from the exploitation of the people and impede the fight for justice and equality. The negative impacts of intertwining religion with governance are seen around the world. Here are some examples of religious interference in countries like India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Israel, Myanmar, Turkey, Afghanistan, and the United States.
Religious governance is a recipe for division
Religion, by its very nature, is exclusive. It focuses on specific beliefs, rituals, and practices, frequently excluding those who do not follow them. When a government adopts a certain religious stance, they prioritise one group over others. This phenomenon can be observed across various nations.
India:
In India, the involvement of religion in governance has been visible with the rise of Hindutva politics. Minorities who have historically played a significant role in India's pluralistic society, such as Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Adivasis, have been marginalised as a result of this change. The founding fathers, including Netaji Bose, warned against the rise of religious extremism, emphasising the importance of secularism and inclusivity. Other founding fathers, such as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and J.L. Nehru, advocated for a secular India.
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Under the current regime, the idea of inclusivity is increasingly under threat. The Hindutva ideology promotes a vision of India that is based on Hindu supremacy, which was inspired by the Nuremberg laws (1935) of Nazi Germany and Mussolini's form of governance. The recent killings of Kuki minorities of Manipur and the Sambhal riots driven by the religious extremism are a reminder of the dangers of such politics. Ancient and mediaeval India had a long tradition of religious pluralism. The Mauryan emperor Ashoka and Mughal emperor Akbar embraced diversity and promoted religious tolerance and peace.
However, the Hindu nationalist movement led by the far-right RSS-BJP seeks to erase this legacy.The current government's policies, such as CAA, PURCO, are extremely exclusionary, making India's once-celebrated pluralism a distant memory. This shift has also threatened India's founding principles as a secular republic.
Bangladesh:
Bangladesh was founded as a secular state, but the rise of far-right religious political parties such as Jamaat-i-Islami, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) [though banned in 2004] and the former ruling party Awami League led to the erosion of secular ideals and increased social division, particularly between the Muslim majority and the Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist minorities. The recent coup d'état, which was necessary to depose the fascist Hasina government, has caused social unrest because the new interim government has favoured Muslim majorities while allowing the radical part of the majority to attack Hindus and other minorities. The interim government's accommodation of religious extremists has undermined the founding father, Sheikh Mujibar Rahman's commitment to secularism and inclusivity, threatening the rights and freedoms of non-Muslim minorities. It is evident from the recent attacks on Hindus that a government should not be motivated by religion.
Egypt:
Egypt, once a key player in the Arab world's secular movements, has seen religious politics take centre stage in recent years. Former Egyptian president Gamel Abdel Nasser aimed to establish Egypt as the Arab world's leading secular state in the '50s. But the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, a political organisation in Egypt, kept rising. The 2011 Egyptian Revolution initially brought the hopes of a secular democracy, but the rise of the Brotherhood under President Morsi led to increasing polarisation between the Muslim majority and the Christian minority groups. Egypt's political situation became further authoritarian following the overthrow of Morsi through a coup led by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Under Sisi's regime, the state regulates, administers, and runs Egypt's three main religious institutions, which are Al-Azhar, Dar al-Iftaa, and the Ministry of Religious Endowments. President Sisi has the authority to appoint senior sheikhs and imams, determine the budgets of religious institutions, and oversee their operations. Religion's growing influence in Egyptian politics has intensified the persecution of Coptic Christians and shaped several policies that alienate non-Muslims.
Israel:
The state of Israel was not created on a secular ground. The Israeli national anthem 'HakTikvah' includes "As long as Jewish spirit is yearning" and "The two thousand-year-old hope." The concept of Zionism has a profound impact on Israeli governance. The religious parties, such as Likud, Shas, or even the opposition Yesh Atid in Knesset, are the reason for Israel's 76-year-old continuation of the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and the killings of the thousands and thousands of people(Unofficially, more than 170000) in Palestine. These parties are rooted in Jewish religious laws, impacting overall public policies in Israel. The religious stance of the government can be seen applied to its own people if the common Jewish Israelis protest against the government for its oppression against the non-Jewish communities. The imperialistic Jewish ideology mixed with religious nationalistic policies has marginalised non-Jewish groups and Palestinians.
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Myanmar:
In Myanmar, the country's Buddhist majority has used religious extremism to justify the persecution of the Muslim Rohingya population, leading to widespread violence and displacement. The condition became so much worse that in 2018, the former UN human rights chief told the BBC that the former Myanmar prime minister, San Suu Kyi-led government's attempts to kill and gang-rape the Rohingya Muslims have "genocidal intent" and are "deeply regrettable". Amnesty International requested the Nobel committee to revoke her previously won Nobel Prize (for peace, 1991) and also withdrew its highest honour, the Ambassador of Conscience, for her actions against humanity. After the coup, the military has also aligned itself with the majoritarian Buddhist nationalist movements. The government's history of religious and ethnic intolerance has led to one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in recent years.
Turkey:
Once a shining example of secularism in the Muslim world, Turkey has seen a rise in the influence of religion in its governance, especially under President Erdogan. In 1928, Turkey's constitution was first amended to remove Islam as the religion of the state. Further, the founding father of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, established a secular Turkey, deliberately separating religion from the state. However, Erdogan has reversed many of Ataturk's reforms, gradually introducing Islamic principles into public life. In 2007, when Ergogan was the prime minister, "hundreds of secularist officers and civil officers" were jailed. The ruling AKP government pursued an explicit policy agenda of Islamisation in order to "raise a devout generation," resulting in job losses for many non-Muslim or nonreligious citizens. In a recent survey, it is revealed that more than 80% of Turks want their country to be a secular state. But Turkey's religiously charged politics and strict Islamisation kept bringing divisions in society.
Afghanistan:
Afghanistan was a rare example of a Muslim-majority country that promoted women's rights and social progress during the socialist regime of the 1970s. The Marxist government, which took power in 1978, made significant progress in education, health, and women's rights. But the intervention of the CIA, which supported the Islamic terrorist organisations like the Taliban and Al Qaeda to counter Soviet presence, led to the Islamic interference in the politics of Afghanistan. The Taliban's return to power in 2021 has wiped out women's rights and secular governance. Today, the women are denied education and work; they are barred from speaking to each other; even the construction of windows in residential buildings that overlook areas used by women is also banned for them. The Afghan Shia Hazaraas, Ahmadis, Sikhs, and Hindu minority communities have been killed, and the majority have fled to Pakistan, India, and other countries.
United States of America:
In the United States, religious nationalism has been on the rise, especially among the far-right Christian groups.This influence has far-reaching consequences, including shaping election outcomes, undermining marginalised groups, and even public health measures. The 2016, 2020, and 2024 elections showcased the immense influence of conservative Christians in American politics. Donald Trump, in each of these elections, has been supported by the conservatives promoting the radical Christian values and opposing abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. The conservatives' continuous support to Trump and his divisive & regressive policies emphasises how religious orthodoxy outweighs logical considerations in political decision making. During the COVID-19 pandemic, religious rhetoric fueled the anti-vaxxer movement, framing vaccine mandates as an infringement on their religious freedom which contributed to unnecessary deaths.The religious politics has impacted on supreme court decisions, several state level regressive bills targetting transgender youths and also contributed the conservative idea of supporting Israel on the Palestine issue which lead back to our general idea of separating the church from the state.
Solutions for Secular Governance
To achieve a secular governance, several measures must be implemented. Here are some of them, which I think are essential to having progress and societal harmony. First, any political party that is associated with religious organisations should be banned. Not a single member of the party or any employee of the government should have a history of organising or associating with a religious organisation. Secondly, strict laws should be passed, or amendments need to be done in the constitution to uphold the separation of the church and the state. Thirdly, education should strictly promote scientific temper, critical thinking, and secular values. No school should have a religious association. Fourth, laws protecting the minority rights must be strengthened to foster equality. There should be strict and compulsory laws for the upliftment of the minorities. Additionally, the media should be held accountable if they propagate divisive religious narratives.
True progress lies in Pluralism and Equality
To conclude, religion must be separated from political decision-making in all countries. We should ask ourselves, should personal faith influence public policy? From the above examples, it is evident that in every country, regardless of the majority religion, political parties have exploited the fear of religious extinction to erode inclusivity for their own benefit. Religious dogmas, rooted in ancient texts and rituals, often clash with scientific advancements and social progress. For instance, religious opposition to issues such as women’s rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and scientific innovation hinders societal development. As citizens, we must uphold secular principles and hold leaders accountable if they attempt to involve religion in public policy. True progress lies in creating societies where diversity is celebrated, equality is upheld, and religion remains a personal choice, not a political weapon.
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