Religious Tolerance and Secularism

Religious tolerance  is the acceptance of the different views of other people in religious matters, and fairness towards the people who hold different religious views. It is a practice where people of different religion live together at a place with harmonious relation and respect each other. Nepal is a country where the people of different religion have been living together with good relation. No conflict has taken place in the name of religion. They respect each other's religion and even participate in each other's religious and cultural activities. On the basis of the following facts, we can justify that there is religious tolerance in Nepal since ancient time.

• The Kings of Gopal and Kirant dynasty used to follow Shaivism whereas Lichchhavi King Mandev's family used to follow both Shaivism and Vaishnav.
• The Lichchhavi King Mandev had built Man Vihar paying respect to Buddhism.
• Pratap Malla had permitted Christian pastors to live in Kathmandu.
• Bhaskar Malla had appointed some Muslims in his palace for their services.
• King Prithvi Narayan Shah had invited Muslims artisans in the palace for repairing arms and to train the army.
• Both the Hindus and Buddhists workshop in the Pashupatinath and Swaymbhunath .
• A daughter of Shakya, a Buddhism follower is worshiped by Hindus as Kumari.

What is secularism ? 

If a state treats all its citizens equally not considering their religion and avoid favored treatment to the citizens of a particular religion, it is a practice of secularism. Secularism is an ideology according to which religion or religious beliefs should be excluded from certain human activities and decisions, especially those concerning to public and political affairs. A state or a country that is officially neutral in matters of religion, neither supporting nor opposing any particular religious system is called a secular state. The reinstated parliament by the People's Movement II made a historical ' House of Representatives'  Declaration 2063, on 4th Jesth 2063 BS. This historical declaration made Nepal a secular state for the first time in the history of Nepal. Before it , Nepal was known as only one Hindu country in the world.

Constitutional Provision regarding secularism and right to religious freedom

The Constitution of Nepal has stated in part: 1, Article :4 as "Nepal is an independent indivisible, sovereign, secular, inclusive democratic , socialism oriented federal democratic republican state". It has further explained this article as " For the purpose of this article , 'secular' means protection of religion and culture being practiced since ancient times and religious and cultural freedom". Similarly, a provision of Right to Religious Freedom as a fundamental right has been made in the Article : 26 under the Part: 3 in the Constitution of Nepal . It has stated that:

• Every person shall have the right to profess, practice and protect his or her own religion according to conviction and the freedom to separate oneself from any religion.
• Every religious denomination, shall have the right to maintain its independent existence, and for their purpose, to operate and protect its religious sites and religious trusts, in accordance with law.
• In exercising right entrusted by this article , any act which may be contrary to public peace or act to convert another person from one religion to another or any act or behavior to undermine or jeopardize the religion of each other is not allowed and such act shall be punishable by law.

Thus, it is everyone's duty to utilize the religious freedom. Every religious denomination should perform religious activities only accordance to the law. All of us should learn to respect each other's religions while performing own religious activities.

Positive aspects of Secularism

• Religious and social relation can be promoted through social justice and equality.
• A sense of cooperation and friendship develops among the people.
• The people get equal facility, service and protection from the state.
• The state can work freely without the pressure of any religious group.
• Culture, tradition and heritages of various religious groups can be preserved.