To be truly secular:

(i)A state must not only refuse to be theocratic but also have no formal, legal alliance with any religion.

(ii)The separation of religion-state is however an necessary but not a sufficient ingredient of a secular state.

(iii)A secular state must be committed to principles and goals which are at least partly derived from non-religious sources.

(iv)These ends should include peace, religious freedom, freedom from religiously grounded oppressions, discrimination and exclusions, as also inter-religious and intra-religious equality.

The examples:

(i)Jews faced discrimination for centuries throughout Europe, subtle forms of discrimination also continue to persist against non–Christians in many parts of Europe even today.

(ii)In the present state of Israel, Arab minorities, both Christian and Muslims, are excluded from social, political and economic benefits available of Jewish citizens.

The examples which remind us of the continuing importance of secularism for people and societies in today’s world are mentioned below:

(i)Though Jews faced discrimination for centuries throughout Europe, in the present state of Israel, Arab minorities, both Christian and Muslims, are excluded from social, political and economic benefits available to Jewish citizens.

(ii)Subtle forms of discrimination also continue to persist against non-Christians in several parts of Europe. The condition of religious minorities in the neighbouring states of Pakistan and Bangladesh has also generated considerable concern.

The two dimensions of secularism :

(i)Secularism is first and foremost a doctrine that opposes all such forms of inter-religious domination. This is however only one crucial aspect of the concept of secularism.

(ii)An equally important dimension of secularism is its opposition to intra-religious domination.