EBOR Lecture: Secularism and Neutrality of Political Space

Lord Bhikhu Parekh will argue that conflicts in a multi-religious society can only be avoided by creating a procedurally secular and religiously sensitive state. He warns that procedural secularity should not be turned into a full blooded substantive ideology that poses a threat to all religions and becomes a new source of disorder.

Bhikhu Chotalal Parekh is a political theorist and Labour member of the House of Lords.

The year 2018 marks the centenary of the ending of World War I. Communities and individuals across the world will be involved in commemorating and remembering those who fought, survived or died in this war. As part of this commemoration our 2018 series of the Ebor lectures, ‘Peace and Reconciliation’  offers a range of speakers who will talk about various themes, issues and examples, both past and present, concerned with building peace and promoting reconciliation in a variety of contexts. It is hoped that this series will provide a further understanding of how the healing of communities and progress along the peace-building road can be achieved. As Mahatma Gandhi said in his teaching on peace: ‘You must be the change you wish to see in the world.’