Secularism involves the separation of religion from civic affairs and the state institutions. Principles typically emphasize equality before law and state neutrality to religious affairs.
It has been applied differently across different parts of the world.
Some regimes, such as the US or Canada, are secular but theists. All citizens are equal before the law, but the concept of credo in one God is emphasized in hymns, and oaths.
Some regimes, such as France, have adopted neutral stances with regards to religion, removing it from public institutions, education and practices, but without opposing it in private cultural spheres.
In Albania, a communist regime viewed religious divisions as a threat to the survival of the state, restricted religious symbols and even enacted naming rules for newborn babies, to remove the ability to distinguish between religious groups.
In India, the state is officially secular, but religious communities still hold the options of abiding by religious law for family law matters, while religious institutions are still provided with some financial and administrative support according to certain laws.
The concept of secularism is therefore applied in many different ways. It has wrongly been associated with atheism in the past.
Lebanese society is essentially free to create whichever type of civilization is desired. Any formula imposed on anyone is bound to fail, while multi-confessional consensus is essential for a sustainable solution.
The enactment of a civil code for personal status matters would convert Lebanon to a civil state, while removing Parliament and executive branch confessional quotas, establishing the Lebanese Senate as the sole institution with such quotas, would make Lebanon “quasi-secular”, while preserving sectarian representation in a Lower House of Parliament for sensitive existential issues.
Laws are simply the codification of values of a society into rules enforced by a justice system, so changes in laws typically need to be accompanied by adequate changes in values, culture and norms.
Religious establishments influence Lebanese society in many ways: spiritual, cultural, economic and political. A diplomatic and feasible approach towards a fully secular order would need to involve a decrease in their political influence, which usually occurs via political speeches and acting as power brokers in deals. Their cultural and economic role would also have to be clearly outlined around universal principles, so that society can thrive spiritually, culturally, humanistically and economically.