| God is formless and omni-potent. God is adorable and | | | | material Secularism. Secularism by its virtue has only |
| thus sacred. It has been a debatable topic whether | | | | the form and one dimension, i.e. religious tolerance. But |
| any one has seen God. While understanding the | | | | there are different forms of spiritualism, i.e. idealistic |
| importance of Almighty in our earthly life, we encounter | | | | spiritualism, humanistic spiritualism, cosmic spiritualism, |
| with two specific words, i.e. Secularism and Spiritualism. | | | | etc. |
| It has been a debatable topic regarding the charismatic | | | | The most fundamental difference between two lies in |
| effect of these both ‘ISM’ in our human life. | | | | ‘end’ and ‘means’ distinction. Spiritualism |
| Secularism is defined as a doctrine which tells us about | | | | appears as an ‘end’ itself but secularism acts |
| equal respect to all religions or religious faiths both | | | | as both ‘end’ and ‘means’. Secularism |
| theistic and atheistic. Secularism is linked with the notion | | | | accepts the supremacy of human reason and |
| of religion and religious phenomena. Spiritualism is also | | | | Spiritualism emphasizes on the supremacy of faith. |
| defined as a doctrine which tells us about the nature | | | | Secular human may be a spiritualist but a spiritualist |
| and content of the concept of ‘Spirit’ which is | | | | may necessarily not be a Secular. Religious affinity is |
| completely transcendental. It is neither theistic nor | | | | neutral to Spiritualism. |
| atheistic. | | | | Secularism is a doctrine of relativism whereas |
| Metaphysical aspect of Secularism deals with a | | | | Spiritualism is a doctrine of absolutism. That is, |
| faith-oriented concept of God or a concept of human. | | | | Secularism may provide different world views with |
| And epistemological basis of Secularism is concerned | | | | regards to conditions and factors availed in a context, |
| with religious awareness earned by both religious | | | | but Spiritualism lacks these alternations. So, Secularism |
| means and humanistic means. On the other hand, | | | | is oriental but Spiritualism is concrete one. |
| metaphysical aspect of Spiritualism deals with | | | | Both put different intellectual frame-works, but the |
| something eternal and absolute, and epistemological | | | | centres of these frame-works are occupied by the |
| aspect of it is concerned with the concept of | | | | sole concepts like religion and spirit. After all, both |
| self-knowledge which leads to self-realization. | | | | frame-works are directed to human who is considered |
| Ethical concern of Secularism leads to domination of | | | | as a free moral agent. As a free mortal agent human |
| human existence and common values like compassion, | | | | determines the true rational geography of these |
| tolerance, fellow-feeling, impartiality etc. Moral of | | | | frame-works and stipulates principles or laws for its |
| humanity is central to secularism. Spiritualism speaks | | | | needful operation. |
| of a morality of higher order. This higher order situates | | | | Deviation in Secularism is natural. But such deviations |
| all values in the light of trans-human facets which are | | | | are not so easy in case of spiritual discourse. That is, a |
| generally not experienced by our senses. Intuition is the | | | | man of religion like Hindu or Muslim or Christian may |
| means to know these higher-order values. Truth is | | | | give up his faith in a particular religion, may accept |
| depicted as such a higher-order to Secularism. | | | | another or may totally discard. But in case of |
| While Secularism seems to be more humanistic and | | | | Spiritualism, there are no such possibilities. Once a man |
| practical, spiritualism becomes more metaphysical and | | | | is ascribed as Spiritualist may be monist, dualist or |
| it often leads to mysticism. That is, in Secularism, there | | | | qualified monist but he can never discard the spirit as |
| is no space for supra-sensuous elements, but in case | | | | the ultimate reality. |
| of Spiritualism, the spiritual-masters claim for | | | | There is also a close affinity between secularism and |
| supra-sensuous elements in the practice of radical | | | | spirituality in spite of a number of differences. This |
| Spiritualism. | | | | affinity can be disclosed in the process of our |
| Methodologically, Secularism is rational and scientific but | | | | regards to universality of humanity, i.e. in light of |
| spiritualism has its method of speculation and | | | | ‘Spirit’, we all are equal and secular above all |
| sometimes, it claims support for establishing dogmatism | | | | our attachments, attitudes, beliefs, and commitments. |
| or mysticism. Dogmatism results in mere faith on | | | | Glorification of spirit or any particular religion is |
| assumption of spirit of some non-natural entity in guise | | | | redundant to that extent. |
| of the so called ‘Spirit’. Mysticism results in | | | | Secularism has its own rationality in morality as of a |
| excessive supra-experiential adherence or support, i.e. | | | | human institution. Humanization of Spiritualism often |
| ‘Tantra’ or Black Magic. | | | | leads to that rationality in morality. |
| Secularism has always a social concern, but | | | | Human rights, social justice, gender equity, etc. are |
| spiritualism may or may not have any social concern, | | | | accentuated within the perspective of secularism. |
| The opposite of Secularism leads to religious | | | | Spiritualism may or may not invite the issues related to |
| fundamentalism whereas the opposite of Spiritualism | | | | such concepts. |
| leads to above materialism or physicalism. | | | | Secularism paves the way for a most cultural and |
| The dualism between spirit and matter is lacking in | | | | civilized way of living and it is also a vision or view of |
| Secularism, but in discourse of Spiritualism, the | | | | life for a better and harmonious living. This is its spiritual |
| pre-supposition of such dualism is a necessary | | | | end. Spiritualism stands for a religious force in humans |
| phenomenon. No one can ever say that there are | | | | and cultivation of this force leads to a higher order of |
| theistic or religious secularism as well as atheistic or | | | | living. |