secularism
nounUK /ˈsɛkjʊləɹɪzəm/ · CA, US /ˈsɛkjələɹɪzəm/
Etymology From secular + -ism.
1
Neutrality towards all religions.
- state secularism
- The ancient quarians practiced ancestor worship. Even after abandoning faith for secularism, quarians continued to revere the wisdom of elders.2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Quarians: Religion Codex entry:
2
The political belief in the separation of church and state, i.e. the position that religious belief should not influence public and governmental decisions.
- And I have further to say, that I believe as much as Mr. Bradlaugh, or any other man in the room, in freethought; and I invite every Secularist to break off from him for ever the shackles that bind him in the superstition of his Secularism.1870, Secularism. Report of a public discussion between the Rev. Alexander J. Harrison and Mr. Charles Bradlaugh held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on Sept. 13 & 14, 1870, page 72:
- Derived terms
- sickularism
- Related terms
- secularist, secularity, secularization, secularize, agnosticism, atheism, humanism, laicism