BELIEVERS in secularism used to assume that only through secularism would people of different faiths be able to co-exist peacefully as, based on their experience, religion had been the cause of much intolerance, bigotry and war. Extremism is also often associated with religious bigotry.
Hence, it has been suggested that the power of religion and its role in society be curbed and minimised. So, secularisation has been chosen by Western countries as the path to follow through.
However, Karen Leong argues in her article entitled: 'Violent and intolerant secularists' (published in 2001 and updated in 2008), that intolerance, violence and extremism are not exclusive to people of faith because there have always been secularists who are more violent, intolerant and extreme than the adherents of religions.
For example, the Khmer Rouge, who were atheists and extreme secularists, massacred a quarter of the Cambodian population (about two million people) between 1975 and 1979 to realise their secular utopia. Other examples of intolerant secularists include the late Soviet revolutionary Joseph Stalin and Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong. Both these leaders starved to death millions of their own people.
In Europe, Adolf Hitler implemented his murderous agenda through his secular Nazi party. The intolerance and barbarity of the secularists was further exemplified by Maximilien Robespierre, who sought to replace Christianity with the worship of secular reason by killing thousands of Catholics using the guillotine.
Leong's mentioning of the ugly history of secularism is aimed at many self-styled secularists in Malaysia, whom she describes as "either ignorant about the real meaning of secularism or are actually practising a religion that is just not called religion".
About two decades after the publication of the article, what Leong says remains true and relevant and her call for balanced thinking and self-criticism is appropriate.
Secularism has indeed become a new religion because, like the old religion it seeks to eradicate, some of its followers also think that its belief system is universal and immutable.
In France assertive secularism, known as Laicite, has led to conflicts between the rights to self-determinism, local culture and religious freedom. Guided by its Laicite policy, France banned the wearing of the burkini allegedly to protect France against Islamic extremism.
The ban, however, caused a widespread outcry which led to its lifting in 2016 as it undermines fundamental rights and freedom. Radical secularism has indeed become a new civil religion with government ministers as its "priests", the head of state as its "pontiff", the intellectuals as its "acolytes" while the "heretics" are those who would call for a friendlier attitude towards religion.
Radical secularists would promote blasphemy as a right and a form of freedom of speech. When caricaturing Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is not only allowed but also defended by France in the name of the right to blaspheme society, which has a Muslim population of about eight per cent, the situation worsens due to provocation, counter provocation and deadly violence.
It is obvious that the secularists have an obsessive focus towards Islam and the Muslims as exemplified by their fondness in stigmatising and humiliating Muslims and Islamic teachings.
For a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country like Malaysia, where the Muslims are a majority and Islam is recognised by the Constitution as the official religion of the Federation, the call by some quarters for a more secular Malaysia only betrays ignorance and bigotry.
It is an ignorance because as far as Islam is concerned there is no dichotomy between the life in this world and eternal life in the hereafter, so secularism is irrelevant as the hereafter is the ultimate aim of this worldly life.
Every true Muslim would therefore strive to make the best out of this life in order to achieve eternal happiness in the hereafter by living an ethical life according to the laws of God.
While Muslims are known for their tolerance and kindness towards others, they would not shy away to come together in order to defend their religion and way of life against enmity, oppression, disrespectful attitude and arrogance.
The secularists must be reminded that just as religious extremism is unacceptable, so is secular extremism and the condescending behaviour of the secular extremists.
* The writer is a senior fellow at the Centre for the Study of Shariah, Law & Politics (SYARAK), Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM)