Is it possible to consider Nationalism a secular religion?

Question

Please answer with references cited from "reliable" authors. Thank you very much!

Answer 1

First let us define religion: "Religion is the adherence to codified beliefs and rituals that (generally) involve a faith in a spiritual nature and a study of inherited ancestral traditions, knowledge and wisdom related to understanding human life. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to faith as well as to the larger shared systems of belief."

Then let us look at Nationalism (For the sake of consistency I will use the same source): "Nationalism is an ideology that holds that a nation is the fundamental unit for human social life, and takes precedence over any other social and political principles. Nationalism typically makes certain political claims based upon this belief: above all, the claim that the nation is the only fully legitimate basis for a state, that each nation is entitled to its own state, and that the borders of the state should be congruent with the borders of the nation. Nationalism refers to both a political doctrine and any collective action by political and social movements on behalf of specific nations."

Due to the fact that the definition of nationalism "takes precedence over any other social and political principles," I would believe that it is not a religion, but an idea that supersedes religion and helps provide a means by which people of varying religious or non-religious beliefs can stake claim and agree to adhere to.

Answer 2

All ideologies are religions in so far as their adherents consider them to be better or the only beliefs to have.

Including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, democracy, socialism, nationalism, communism and many others.

Answer 3

not sure