secularize
/'sekjuləraiz/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To transfer from ecclesiastical to civil possession, use, or control: To remove something (such as property, an institution, or a function) from the control or ownership of a religious body and place it under the authority of a non-religious, civil government.
- To make secular and draw away from a religious orientation: To remove religious influence, character, or control from a society, institution, or individual's life; to make something worldly or non-religious.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- The government decided to secularize the monastery's lands and convert them into public parks.
- The movement sought to secularize the education system by removing mandatory religious instruction from the curriculum.
- Ataturk's reforms aimed to secularize Turkey, separating religion from the state's governance.
Advanced Usage
- "to secularize a holiday": to remove the religious significance from a traditionally religious holiday, making it a general cultural or public celebration.
- Some argue that commercialism has effectively secularized Christmas in many countries.
- "to secularize society": to reduce the influence of religion on public life, laws, and social norms.
- The process to secularize society often involves legal reforms concerning marriage, education, and state symbols.
Variants and Related Words
- Secularization (n): The process or act of making something secular.
- The secularization of Western Europe was a gradual process over centuries.
- Secular (adj): Denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis.
- We live in a predominantly secular society.
- Secularism (n): The principle of separation of the state from religious institutions.
- The country's constitution is based on secularism.
Synonyms
- Deconsecrate: To transfer (a building) from sacred to secular use.
- Laicize: To remove clerical character or influence from; to make lay or secular. (Often used specifically for removing religious status from individuals or institutions.)
Antonyms
- Consecrate: To make or declare something sacred.
- Sanctify: To set apart as or declare holy; to consecrate.
- Sacralize: To invest with or treat as having a sacred character or quality.
Verb
- transfer from ecclesiastical to civil possession, use, or control
- make secular and draw away from a religious orientation
- Ataturk secularized Turkey