I OFFERED THE FOLLOWING SHORT ANSWER TO A QUESTION I WAS ASKED ON QUORA.COM: WHAT IS A "SECULAR STATE."

A “SECULAR STATE” in general, is a form of Government that does not allow Religious Faith or Dogma to be the basis for its Social or Legal System.

That does not mean that there is no RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, but that FREEDOM is for personal Worship, and is not ALLOWED TO BECOME PUBLIC POLICY.

A System of ETHICS AND MORAL ABSOLUTES IS CREATED APART FROM FAITH BASED SYSTEMS. WHY? RELIGIOUS FAITH, BY ITS VERY NATURE, IS ACCEPTED WITHOUT QUESTION. There is no need to justify it to others, for the belief itself is not questioned by the individual.

Certain Concepts, such as the Idea of HUMAN OR CITIZEN RIGHTS, MANIFESTED IN LAWS THAT CREATE SUCH ETHICAL “GOODS” as Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Choice, Freedom to Assemble.,etc, cannot be guaranteed, or in some cases even allowed, IN A FAITH-BASED SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.

QUITE SIMPLY, IN A SECULAR STATE ALL EXISTING LAWS CAN BE CREATED OR ALTERED BY THE GENERAL CIVIL POPULATION. IN A FAITH-BASED SYSTEM THAT POWER EXISTS ONLY WITH THE RELIGIOUS HIERARCHY.