Word Meaning:
- Secular refers to something that is not connected with religion or spiritual matters. It can describe things, ideas, or activities that are worldly and unrelated to any religious authority or practice.
History and Origins:
- The word “secular” comes from the Latin word saecularis, meaning “worldly” or “of a generation,” referring to the material world and the temporal, as opposed to the spiritual or eternal. It has been used in English since the 14th century to describe non-religious affairs or ideas.
Definitions and Meaning in English:
- Secular (adjective): Not related to religion; of or pertaining to the world or worldly matters.
- Example: The school adopted a secular approach, focusing on academics without religious influence.
Detailed Explanation:
Secular refers to aspects of life, society, or governance that are not influenced by religious or spiritual beliefs. In contrast to religious or sacred matters, secular refers to everyday, worldly concerns such as politics, education, and culture. Secularism is the principle of separating religion from public institutions or laws.
Synonyms with Short Explanation:
- Non-religious – Not associated with religious beliefs or practices.
- Worldly – Relating to the material, practical aspects of life, rather than spiritual or religious matters.
- Lay – Pertaining to non-clerical or non-professional individuals, often used in a religious context to refer to those who are not priests or clergy.
- Earthly – Connected to the physical world, as opposed to spiritual or heavenly matters.
Example Sentences:
- The country’s laws are secular, ensuring equal rights for people of all faiths.
- She preferred secular music over religious hymns for the event.
- The debate over secular education versus religious schooling is ongoing in many regions.
Related Words:
- Secularism – The belief in or practice of separating religion from political or public life.
- Irreligious – Lacking religious beliefs or practices, similar to secular but often implying a stronger indifference to religion.
- Atheism – The absence of belief in gods or deities, often associated with secular or non-religious worldviews.
More Matches:
- Humanism – A philosophical stance that emphasizes human values and reasoning, often linked with secular beliefs, particularly in the context of ethics and society.
- Pluralism – A view that supports diversity of views, often used in discussions of secular societies where different beliefs coexist.
Antonyms:
- Religious – Pertaining to religion, religious beliefs, or practices.
- Sacred – Dedicated or connected to a religious purpose; holy or divine.
- Spiritual – Related to the soul, spirit, or religious matters, as opposed to secular concerns.
- Clerical – Related to the clergy or religious officials, in contrast to secular occupations or roles.