RT Book T1 Secularism and Religion in Multi-faith Societies: The Case of India T2 SpringerBriefs in Political Science T2 SpringerLink Bücher A1 Sen, Ragini A2 Wagner, Wolfgang A2 Howarth, Caroline LA English PP Cham s.l. PB Springer International Publishing YR 2014 UL https://www.ixtheo.de/Record/1653018143 AB This Brief looks at the illustrative case of the Hindu-Muslim conflict in India, with the aim of understanding the dynamics of lived secularism as it exists in traditional multi-faith societies such as India. The data analyzed in this Brief comprise many interviews, conducted amidst Hindus and Muslims, with respondents of both sexes living in slum and middle class regions in the city of Mumbai. The volume begins by giving a brief summary of the historical and cultural background to the present situation in India. It then traces complementarities and similarities of opinions across diverse constituencies which cluster around three main anchoring points: communication, re-presentations and operationalizing of a shared dream. The first point explores the need to understand and to be understood, encourages processes of mutual acculturation, and describes the sensitive decoding of cultural symbols such as dress codes. The second point discusses changes in mind sets and mutual perceptions, where Muslims and Islam are portrayed in a balanced way and exploitation of religion for political purposes is stopped. The third main point is the involvement of the common, regular person, and a focus on children, as the unifying hope for the future. Throughout the volume, emphasis is on moral maturation, cultural interpretation in lieu of cultural imposition and creation of a sensitive media policy. The issues raised may help craft interdisciplinary and international frameworks, which address conflict resolution in culturally diverse multi-faith societies. Accordingly, the book concludes with policy recommendations for supporting the peaceful coexistence of secularism and religion in society from a peace psychological perspective NO Description based upon print version of record CN HM1001-1281 SN 9783319019222 K1 Religion K1 Political Science K1 Personality K1 Social Psychology K1 Psychology K1 Philosophy (General) K1 Religion (General) K1 Consciousness DO 10.1007/978-3-319-01922-2