When it comes to secularism, the same clichéd phrase still circulates:
“Separation of religion and state...”
Incomplete, even misleading in places.
Because secularism has entered the stage of history “religious hostility” did not emerge as such. When we look at the background of the French Revolution, the issue is very clear: The Church had become the master of the state, not a partner of the state. The people were being oppressed, thought was being suppressed, faith was becoming an instrument of oppression. Secularism was born against this domination.
Even the root of the word says this. Latin laici: “Non-clergy.”
In other words, secularism is not about religion but about clergy. More precisely, it is about keeping those who speak in the name of religion away from state administration...
The leader who read this fine distinction most accurately was Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The establishment of the Presidency of Religious Affairs by the Republic of Turkey is not contrary to secularism; on the contrary, it is the appropriate interpretation of secularism for these lands. Because the field of religion is one of the most open to abuse. The state can regulate this area. It should even regulate it. But it is a clear violation of secularism for religious structures to direct the state.
“Secularism is hostility to religion” And those who say, “suppress religion in the name of secularism” are equally wrong. Secularism is neither a propaganda of disbelief nor an anti-religious ideology. The problem is not with religion, but with those who use religion for politics, commerce and domination.
“A secularist is not a Muslim” sentences like these are just ignorance speaking loudly. In Islamic law “What is essential in things is permissibility” principle, in the name of which religion does this mentality, which ignores the individual's freedom, speak?
No one's individual belief and worship is not the problem. The problem is putting these beliefs on display and judging, oppressing and forcing others to be like them. Any understanding that turns worship into a show and religion into a club harms both secularism and religion.
The Republic of Turkey pays salaries and provides social security for religious officials. This is not a favor; it is a conscious state policy. Yet, it is unacceptable to take the state's salary and preach in spite of the state. The job of a religious official is not to do politics. If anyone wants to do politics, let him/her leave the robe first and then the salary.
Religion is no one's monopoly. Neither a congregation, nor a sect, nor a television preacher... The authority of fatwa is clear; everyone speaks as much as their own memorization. The one whose memorization is wrong is also wrong.
We have seen many hafiz who misread.
Because it is not about seeing with the eyes; it is about understanding with the brain.
It's hard to change the brain, I admit. But it is possible to open it and read it again. Impartially... Courageously... Facing mistakes.
Secularism is not hostility to religion; it is a barrier against religious abuse.
It is not for those who do not want to understand, but for those who intend to understand.