Legal Literacy - Secularismis a political ideology known for the practice of separating state power and religion. Although this concept is important in political and social studies, its discussion often goes unnoticed in the study of law. In fact, secularism has a major influence on the formation of legal norms in various countries. This article will explore the history of secularism, its impact, and its variations in application in the world, including its relevance to Pancasila as the ideology of the Indonesian nation.

Understanding and History of Modern Secularism

According toBritannica,secularismis "the belief that religion should not be involved in government, education, or public affairs of society." This view began to develop along with the decline in the cultural influence of religion in social life, as explained by Charles Taylor in his bookA Secular Age. Taylor notes that secularism is rooted in social transformations in Europe and North America due to the decline in the dominance of religion in community culture. Modern secularism emerged from the history of religious conflicts in Europe in the 16th to 17th centuries. One important moment was theTreaty of Westphalia (1648)which ended the war between Protestants and Catholics. This agreement was an important milestone in the history of secularism because it created the concept of religious freedom while affirming the principle ofequal before the law(equality of individuals before the law). In addition, this agreement also strengthened state sovereignty in the international political system. The main goal of secularism is to reduce inter-religious conflict through the assimilation of individual identity as part of the state. In the vertical relationship between the state and its citizens, secularism emphasizes a social contract in which individual freedoms are regulated within the corridor of state sovereignty.