Haryana State Board HBSE 8th Class Social Science Solutions Civics Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
Haryana Board 8th Class Social Science Solutions Civics Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism
HBSE 8th Class Civics Understanding Secularism Textbook Questions and Answers
Question 1.
List the different types of religious practices that you find in your neighborhood. This could be different forms of prayer, worship of different gods, sacred sites, different kinds of religious music and singing, etc. Does this indicate freedom of religious practices?
Answer:
The different types of practices that we find in our neighborhood are:
(a) Going to temples and gurudwara.
(b) Performing yajna.
(c) Satsang. (Hymn Recitement)
(d) Reading namaaz. (Muslim prayers)
(e) Worshipping idols.
(f) Saying prayers.
(g) Reading epics.
All these things indicate that India is a secular country and the constitution of India grants religious freedom and equality. State does not promote any religion. Everybody is free to worship any god in any manner he or she likes.
Question 2.
Will the government intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practise infanti¬cide? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
Yes, the government will intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practise infanticide. We can give the following reasons for our answer:
(a) No religion of the world allows anyone the murder of an infant. All the religions promote non-violence.
(b) System of sacrifice was promoted by superstitions and selfish religious leaders in ancient or medieval times. No righteous man will support this.
Question 3.
Complete the following table:
| Objective | Why is this important? | Example of a violation of this objective |
| (а) One religious community does not dominate another. | ||
| (b) The State does not enforce any particular religions nor take away the religious freedom of individuals. | ||
| (c) That some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community. |
Answer:
| Objective | Why is this important? | Example of a violation of this objective |
| (а) One religious community does not dominate another. | For the progress and upraising of all community together | Muslims dominate Hindus in Jammu & Kashmir |
| (b) The State does not enforce any particular religions nor take away the religious freedom of individuals. | To avoid discrimination, coercion and killing of religious minorities. | Tamils are dominated by Sinhale’s natives of Sri Lanka |
| (c) That some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community. | To maintain peace, tolerance, coordination and cooperation in the society | Untouchability is practised in Hindu community. |
Question 4.
Look up the annual calendar of holidays of your school. How many of them certain to different religions? What does this indicate?
Answer:
We get about 30 days of holidays every year in which 25 of them pertain to different religions..Like Holi and Diwali {Hindu festivals), Id (Muslim Festival), Good Friday, Christmas (Christian festivals), Guru Nanak Birthday (Sikh festivals), Mahavir Jayanti (Jain festivals), Budh Jayanti (Budh’s festival). This indicates that in India all religious are treated equally. The Indian Constitution allows individuals the freedom to live by their religious beliefs and practices.
Question 5.
Find out some examples of different views within the same religion.
Answer:
Examples of different views within the same religion:
(a) Hindu are divided in Vashnav (followers of Lord Vishnu) and Shiva (worshippers of Lord Shiva).
(b) Muslims are divided into Shiyas and Sunnis.
(c) Buddhists are divided into Mahayan and Hinyan.
(d) Followers of Lord Mahavir are called Jain.
They are also divided into Shwetambaer and Digambar.
Question 6.
The Indian State both keeps away from religion as well as intervene in religion. This idea can be confusing. Discuss this once again in class using examples from the chapter as well as those that you might come up with.
Answer:
Indian State keeps away from religion because if major religious group has access to state power then it could be easily applicable the power and financial resources against the persons of other religions. The majority could quite easily prevent minorities from practising their religions.
To prevent the practice of untouchability among the Hindus, the Indian Constitution bans untouchability. In this case, the State is intervening in religion in order to end a social practice that it believes discriminates and excludes and that violates the fundamental rights of Tower castes’ who are citizens of this country.
Question 7.
This poster alongside highlights the need for ‘Peace’. It says, “Peace is a never ending process. It cannot ignore our differences or overlook our common interests.” Write in your own words what you think the above sentences are trying to convey? How does it relate to the need for religious tolerance?
This chapter had three drawings on religious tolerance made by students of your age. Design your own poster on religious tolerance for your peers.
Answer:
Peace is loved by all. All religions preach peace, non-violence, humanity and brotherhood. Peace is needed for everyone for the sake of security, property protection and for living with honour.
‘Peace’ is a human phenomenon which is for the protection of all. Terrorism is to be condemned by all of us. A picture can be drawn showing the celebration of some festival like Diwali, Holi, Dussehra, being celebrated together by people of more than one religion.
HBSE 8th Class Civics Understanding Secularism Important Questions and Answers
Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
What is a secular state?
Answer:
A state where all religions command equal respect is called a secular state.
Question 2.
What is the main idea behind secularism?
Answer:
Secularism refers the separation of religion from the State.
Question 3.
Write the names of any two non-secular states or countries.
Answer:
(a) Israel (Pro-Jewish)
(b) Saudi Arabia.
Question 4.
Write the names of three former French Colonies.
Answer:
(i) Algeria
(ii) Tunisia
(iii) Morocco
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
What are the objectives of secul-arism in India?
Answer:
The secularism in India has the following objectives:
(a) One religious community does not dominate another.
(b) The same members do not dominate other members of the same religious community.
(c) The State does not enforce any particular religion nor takes away the religious freedom of individuals.
Question 2.
Give one example from the US (United States of America) that is considered an objectionable practice by some children in government school, as a religious saying.
Answer:
In the United States of America, most children in government schools have to begin their school day reciting the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’. This pledge includes the words “Under God”. It was established more than 60 years ago that government school students are not required to recite the pledge if it conflicts with their religious beliefs. Despite this, there have been several legal challenges objecting to phrase “Under God” saying that it violates separation between Church and State that the First Amendment of the US constitution guarantees.
Question 3.
Give examples of violation of the Fundamental Rights in Indian Society.
Answer:
People from minority have sometimes gone to Internal Human Rights Commission. The children below 14 years of age are still seen working in rich families in cities. Female infanticide is practised in some towns though it has been banned by law.
Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
In what way is Indian secularism different from that of other democratic countries?
Answer:
(а) There is strict separation between religion and the State in American secularism, in Indian secularism the State can intervene in religious affairs.
(b) The Indian Constitution on a way permits the State to intervene in religious practices.
For example:
(i) to establish untouchability in Hindu religious practices.
(ii) to ensure that laws relating to equal inheritance rights are respected.
In the USA, the separation between State and religion means that neither the State nor religion can interfere in the affairs of one another.
Question 2.
Why is it important to separate religion from the State?
Answer:
It is important to separate religion from the State because:
(а) In almost all countries of the world there are more than one religious groups living there. If one majority group uses the power and financial resources of the state against minority, this will lead to tyranny of the majority on the minority religious groups.
(b) Once a secular state can ensure the freedom of the individuals and can protect the Fundamental Rights of all its citizens.
(c) The right to freedom of religion is guaranteed to all citizens in a democratic society.
Understanding Secularism Class 8 HBSE Notes
- Coercion: To force someone to do something. It refers to the force used by a legal authority like the State.
- Freedom to interpret: The independence that all persons shall have to understand things in their own way.
- Intervene: It refers to the State’s efforts to influence a particular matter in accordance with the principles of the constitution.
- Untouchability: The wrong and highly objectionable practice of the Hindus (before India became a republic, 26 January 1950 under which the so-called (or claims upper castes most of the Hindus) dominate other members.
- Fundamentalism: That narrow and irrational religious ideology that inspires to think only for the interest of one’s own religion and to hate or discriminate against others because they are followers of his/her religion.