Secular

Definition

Secular refers to something that is not religious or spiritual in nature, but rather focused on worldly or temporal concerns. It denotes a separation of religious and political or social institutions, as well as a focus on the material, rather than the divine or supernatural.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Great Awakening, a series of religious revivals in the American colonies in the 18th century, was a reaction against the growing secularization of society.
2. The Enlightenment, a philosophical movement of the 17th and 18th centuries, emphasized the use of reason and science over religious dogma, promoting a secular worldview.
3. The American Founders sought to create a secular government, with the First Amendment's Establishment Clause prohibiting the establishment of a national religion.
4. Secular institutions, such as public schools and government agencies, are expected to remain neutral on matters of religion and focus on serving the needs of all citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs.
5. The concept of secularism has been a source of ongoing debate and controversy, with some arguing for a more prominent role for religion in public life and others advocating for a strict separation of church and state.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of secularism was reflected in the Great Awakening and the Enlightenment movements.
  • The Great Awakening was a reaction against the growing secularization of society, as it sought to revive religious fervor and devotion in the American colonies. In contrast, the Enlightenment movement emphasized the use of reason and science over religious dogma, promoting a secular worldview that challenged the traditional role of religion in public life. The tension between these two movements reflects the ongoing debate over the appropriate balance between religious and secular concerns in society.
• Describe the role of secularism in the formation of the American government and the separation of church and state.
  • The American Founders sought to create a secular government, with the First Amendment's Establishment Clause prohibiting the establishment of a national religion. This reflected a commitment to secularism, or the separation of religious and political institutions, ensuring that the government remained neutral on matters of religion and focused on serving the needs of all citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs. The principle of secularism has been a central tenet of the American political system, though its interpretation and application have been the subject of ongoing debate and controversy.
• Analyze the impact of secularization on the role of religion in public life, both during the time period of the Great Awakening and the Enlightenment, and in the present day.
  • The process of secularization, in which a society or culture becomes less religious and religious institutions lose influence over social and political affairs, has had a significant impact on the role of religion in public life. During the Great Awakening, the growing secularization of society was seen as a threat to religious devotion and sparked a religious revival. In contrast, the Enlightenment movement promoted a secular worldview that challenged the traditional role of religion in public life. Today, the concept of secularism remains a source of ongoing debate, with some arguing for a more prominent role for religion in public life and others advocating for a strict separation of church and state. The balance between religious and secular concerns continues to shape the social and political landscape.

Related terms

Secularization: The process by which a society or culture becomes less religious, with religious institutions and practices losing influence over social and political affairs.

Secularism: The principle of separation of state and religious institutions, with the state remaining neutral on matters of religion and religious belief.

Secularist: An individual who advocates for or promotes secularism, the separation of church and state, and a focus on worldly rather than religious concerns.