In Defence Of Secularism

THE Namibian far-right – Monitor Action Group – refers to secularism as an undefined concept and calls for it to be erased from the Namibian constitution.

Secularism, of course, is simply about the separation of church and state – which is hardly an unclear issue. The far-right actually hopes to mobilize the religious right in Namibia with their attempt to question the secular state. Religion, after all, is their smokescreen for white tribalism and militarism. It is worthwhile remembering that the former colonial regime called itself a civilized and Christian state but committed many crimes against humanity. Indeed, the heirs of that fascist regime are so afraid of secularism today.Religion is a private choice, in the same way that being a freethinker, agnostic or atheist is a personal decision that should be respected. Secularism means equality amongst everyone – irrespective of being a freethinker, atheist or believer. It is all about tolerance and respect. Religion in the public domain leads to secular stagnation and moral backwardness on several issues. Bluntly stated, religious superstitions serve as a brake on social development and make people uncritical of everyday life. It wishes to keep us all in the Dark Age and close our minds. If anything, Namibia needs a rational debate on what secularism means in terms of our everyday life. The subservience, genuflection and powerlessness instilled by religion should be placed under the spotlight. Secularism should not be merely a clause in the constitution but should be lived. It is after all also about reason and science – which are more important than arguing against religion. So those of us on the Left take the opposite view of the far-right – secularism should undoubtedly stay in the constitution and in fact become part of our lifestyles.For the Left, secularism is a crucial issue since the colonial regime’s primary propaganda against socialism was that it is anti-religion. It is vital to counter this view of socialism amongst the Namibian working class since the apartheid-colonial regime invested massive resources into promoting religion and this conservatism undoubtedly continues to exert significant influence on mass consciousness. Perhaps we were too immersed in questions of racism at the time of the national liberation struggle to grapple sufficiently with the question of religion. Nevertheless, socialism is concerned with socio-economic justice rather than with superstitions.Be that as it may, the Left should probably distinguish between religious fundamentalism and liberation theology. We can say unreservedly that we are opposed to the dogma and profound conservative nature of religious fundamentalism, whether of the Christian, Islamic, Hindu or Judaic variety. This only means stagnation and backwardness. And that is what the far-right wishes to impose on the Namibian working class.Some socialist movements had tactical alliances with Christian liberation theology. The Sandinistas, in their revolutionary days, had the political slogan: ‘Christianity and revolution -there’s no contradiction’. As another example, the 26th of July Movement in Cuba was initially only open to those who do not believe in religion. However, this exclusion of believers subsequently changed. Although Fidel Castro remains a non-believer, this movement does not have a confrontational attitude towards religion since the liberation of Cuba. On the other hand, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela says openly that he is a Christian. This confirms that the Left can have different views on religion.Our view is that the Namibian Left can work with the liberation tendency in religion whether it is Christian liberation theology or an anti-imperialist Islam. But we have to admit that we are pro-actively secular in our political stance and that we are pro-secular rather than anti-religion. We reserve the right to be critical of religion.And, finally, let us debate Napoleon Bonaparte’s view that: ‘Religion is what keeps the poor man from murdering the rich’. As humanists, we are opposed to murdering people, but the point is that religion serves as a smokescreen for the tremendous socio-economic injustices in the world. Is this what the Namibian far-right tries to hide?L. Shikongo and R. BassonKatutura

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