Secularism’s historical roots are complex and diverse, involving a range of intellectual, political, and cultural movements across several centuries. Here are some key development factors that contributed to the rise of secularism:

1. Ancient Philosophies: Greece and Rome are the birthplaces of early secular thinking. Epicurus and Lucretius were among the philosophers who rejected supernatural and religious explanations of the world and promoted naturalistic ones. Comparably, Confucianism in ancient China placed the same value on social harmony and moral philosophy without turning to religious beliefs.
2. Europe in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance: The Catholic Church was a major force in Europe during this time. But the Renaissance (the 14th through the 17th centuries) brought with it a resurgence of interest in humanism and classical education, emphasizing the importance of individualism and human reason. Intellectuals such as Erasmus and Machiavelli started to question the Church’s authority and support keeping religion and politics apart.
3. Scientific Revolution: People’s conceptions of the world were radically altered during the Scientific Revolution of the 16th and 17th century. The need for religious explanations decreased when scientists such as Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton showed that natural laws and empirical observation could explain the universe.
4. Modern Secularism: In today’s world, secularism has emerged as a key characteristic of many democracies. It is based on a number of principles, such as the protection of individual religious freedoms, the separation of state and religious institutions, and the state’s neutrality in matters of faith. Constant discussions about the place of religion in public life, the rights of religious minorities, and the relationship between secular and religious values shape secularism’s continuing evolution.