Question

Explain the concept of principled distance.

Answer 1

• According to the concept of principled distance, a secular state may keep a principled distance from religion to promote peace between communities and it may also intervene to protect the rights of specific communities.

• The state gives equal preference to every religion and respects them all equally. However, the state may interfere if religious groups try to exercise their power on the political and social life of the people.

This balanced distance of state from religious groups is called principled distance.