Insular secularity
What do we mean by "secularity" and "impartiality" in social discourse? Does a secular state, workplace, school necessarily mean the avoidance of all religious and faith expressions? Is this not a kind of religious denialism that shows partiality to secularism, whatever that means and however that is defined?
Or can there be a reflective, nuanced, non-prejudiced approach to expressions of plurality of faiths? If secularity means rigid rules eschewing all faith expressions, is this not a contradiction? Is secularity itself not a worldview with its set of practices, rules, rituals, narratives, myths, experiences, and doctrines that make it a "religion" of sorts? Is this not an unfair imposition of one religious or quasi-religious worldview on all other worldviews, namely religious ones?
In our quest for inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony, can we embrace plurality rather than imposing one worldview over others in the name of "secularity?" Are decision-makers and power-holders in organizations able to adopt and encourage a truly open, non-prejudicial, non-hegemonic perspective and modus operandus so that religious and cultural diversity may flourish, not as a public relations exercise or fashion parade but as grounded pluralism unafraid of honest conversations? Are we depriving our future generations of something precious found only within the human spirit by a hypersensitive fear of religious offense? Are we so afraid of openly and robustly conversing on topics of religion and spirituality simply because of potentially irreconcilable differences?
Are secularists being fair to the religious faithful by insisting that social discourse be delimited to terms and lingo palatable to non-religious folks? Can there be a third way of enlightened conversations at workplaces, schools, public square, and the national stage that celebrates secularity and religiosity without unjust persecution and silencing of any one group? This is a challenge all nations must face.
Pluralistic inclusive worldview education is an important and urgent way to building an awakened, human-literate, faith-wise, secularly reflexive culture of peace—real peace, not mere cosmetic and normatively imposed absence of conflict.
Pluralistic worldview education
Race, religion, and worldview are deeply intertwined. Education and formation need to start young and early, sustained throughout the educational journey, even into adulthood. For this, a coordinated national system of diversity and pluralism education rooted in the deepest beliefs, values, ethos, spiritualities of people groups must be established and entrenched.
A few NGOs here and there, or a few faith groups here and there working towards inter-racial and inter-faith harmony is simply not enough. It is a lifelong process of spiritual formation and inquiry (not indoctrination), sanctioned and supported by national political, religious, cultural and ethnic leaders that may spark a new renaissance of human awakening and culture of peace. For this to happen, vision and courage and leadership are necessary. My desire and hope is that national leaders will start growing some courage and showing some vision and initiative in charting the way forward. At the very least, there should not be paranoid curtailment of discussions and debates on such matters. Better still, provide resources, funding, and structures for public spiritual intellectuals to contribute to this most urgent task.
