Ask Difference

Lay vs. Secular — What's the Difference?

By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 25, 2024
Lay emphasizes non-specialist or non-clerical status in religious contexts, while secular denotes things not affiliated with or bound by religion, spiritual beliefs, or sacred obligations.
Lay vs. Secular — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Lay and Secular

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Key Differences

Lay people are those not ordained within the clergy or not specialized in religious practices, focusing on the life and concerns of the general community. On the other hand, secular relates to aspects outside religious or spiritual jurisdiction, emphasizing worldly over spiritual affairs.
Lay involvement in religious organizations can still carry spiritual significance, whereas secular entities and ideas are rooted in the non-religious and often pertain to government, education, or public life.
While lay individuals may participate in religious activities without clerical authority, secular norms and structures are designed to operate independently of any religious influence. The distinction becomes clear in education, where lay teachers may instruct on religious subjects without being clerics, whereas secular education avoids religious content, promoting a neutral or non-religious perspective.
In terms of governance, lay members might engage in church-related decision-making without being clergy, while secular governance operates without consideration for religious laws or authority.
This contrast underlines the nuanced roles that lay and secular concepts play in delineating the boundaries between religious involvement and the secular sphere.
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Comparison Chart

Definition

Non-ordained or non-specialist in religious context
Not connected with religious or spiritual matters

Focus

Community and general believers' life
Worldly, non-religious affairs

Involvement in Religion

Participates without clerical status
Operates independently of religion

Education

Can teach religious subjects without being clergy
Avoids religious content, promotes neutrality

Governance

May engage in religious organization decisions
Governs without religious laws or considerations

Compare with Definitions

Lay

Non-clerical.
Lay participation in church activities enhances the community's engagement.

Secular

Non-religious.
Secular music often explores themes outside of spiritual beliefs.

Lay

Participatory without ordination.
Lay preachers deliver sermons despite not being ordained.

Secular

Independent of religion in governance.
Secular states operate under laws that are not based on any religion.

Lay

Engaged in decision-making.
Lay representatives have a voice in church councils.

Secular

Pertains to the public sphere.
Secular celebrations include national holidays and historical commemorations.

Lay

Non-specialist in religious practices.
Lay individuals sometimes lead prayer meetings in their homes.

Secular

Worldly affairs.
Secular laws govern without reference to religious doctrine.

Lay

Community-focused.
Lay members contribute to the church's outreach programs.

Secular

Educationally neutral.
Secular schools maintain a curriculum free from religious teachings.

Lay

Put (something) down gently or carefully
She laid the baby in his cot

Secular

Worldly rather than spiritual
The secular affairs of the parish.

Lay

Put down and set in position for use
It is advisable to have your carpet laid by a professional

Secular

Not relating to religion or to a religious body; nonreligious
Secular music.

Lay

Used with an abstract noun so that the phrase formed has the same meaning as the verb related to the noun used, e.g. ‘lay the blame on’ means ‘to blame’
She laid great stress on little courtesies

Secular

Not bound by the full monastic rule of a religious order. Used of clergy.

Lay

(of a female bird, insect, reptile, or amphibian) produce (an egg) from inside the body
The hens were laying at the same rate as usual
Flamingos lay only one egg

Secular

Relating to or advocating secularism.

Lay

Follow (a specified course)
I'm going to lay a course for Ibiza harbour

Secular

Occurring or observed once in an age or century, as games in ancient Rome.

Lay

Trim (a hedge) back, cutting the branches half through, bending them down, and interweaving them
Most hedges are no longer laid

Secular

Lasting or persisting for a long time
A secular bear market.

Lay

The general appearance of an area of land
The lay of the surrounding countryside

Secular

(Astronomy) Of or relating to characteristics of astronomical phenomena that change slowly over time.

Lay

The laying of eggs or the period during which they are laid
The onset of lay may be marked by a dropping of the duck's abdomen

Secular

A member of the secular clergy.

Lay

A short lyric or narrative poem meant to be sung
A minstrel recited a series of lays

Secular

A layperson.

Lay

Not ordained into or belonging to the clergy
A lay preacher

Secular

Not specifically religious; lay or civil, as opposed to clerical.

Lay

Not having professional qualifications or expert knowledge, especially in law or medicine
A lay member of the Health Authority

Secular

Temporal; worldly, or otherwise not based on something timeless.

Lay

To cause to lie down
Lay a child in its crib.

Secular

(Christianity) Not bound by the vows of a monastic order.
Secular clergy in Catholicism

Lay

To place in or bring to a particular position
Lay the cloth over the painting.

Secular

Happening once in an age or century.
The secular games of ancient Rome were held to mark the end of a saeculum and the beginning of the next.

Lay

To bury.

Secular

Continuing over a long period of time, long-term.
The long-term growth in population and income accounts for most secular trends in economic phenomena.
On a secular basis

Lay

To cause to be in a particular condition
The remark laid him open to criticism.

Secular

(literary) Centuries-old, ancient.

Lay

To put or set down
Lay new railroad track.

Secular

Relating to long-term non-periodic irregularities, especially in planetary motion or magnetic field.

Lay

To produce and deposit
Lay eggs.

Secular

(atomic physics) Unperturbed over time.

Lay

To cause to subside; calm or allay
"chas'd the clouds ... and laid the winds" (John Milton).

Secular

A secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by monastic rules.

Lay

To put up to or against something
Lay an ear to the door.

Secular

A church official whose functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir.

Lay

To put forward as a reproach or an accusation
They laid the blame on us.

Secular

A layman, as distinguished from a clergyman.

Lay

To put or set in order or readiness for use
Lay the table for lunch.

Secular

Coming or observed once in an age or a century.
The secular year was kept but once a century.

Lay

To devise; contrive
Lay plans.

Secular

Pertaining to an age, or the progress of ages, or to a long period of time; accomplished in a long progress of time; as, secular inequality; the secular refrigeration of the globe.

Lay

To spread over a surface
Lay paint on a canvas.

Secular

Of or pertaining to this present world, or to things not spiritual or holy; relating to temporal as distinguished from eternal interests; not immediately or primarily respecting the soul, but the body; worldly.
New foes arise,Threatening to bind our souls with secular chains.

Lay

To place or give (importance)
Lay stress on clarity of expression.

Secular

Not regular; not bound by monastic vows or rules; not confined to a monastery, or subject to the rules of a religious community; as, a secular priest.
He tried to enforce a stricter discipline and greater regard for morals, both in the religious orders and the secular clergy.

Lay

To impose as a burden or punishment
Lay a penalty upon the offender.

Secular

Belonging to the laity; lay; not clerical.
I speak of folk in secular estate.

Lay

To present for examination
Lay a case before a committee.

Secular

A secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by monastic rules.

Lay

To put forward as a demand or an assertion
Laid claim to the estate.

Secular

A church official whose functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir.

Lay

(Games) To place (a bet); wager.

Secular

A layman, as distinguished from a clergyman.

Lay

To aim (a gun or cannon).

Secular

Concerning those not members of the clergy;
Set his collar in laic rather than clerical position
The lay ministry
The choir sings both sacred and secular music

Lay

To place together (strands) to be twisted into rope.

Lay

To make in this manner
Lay up cable.

Lay

To produce and deposit eggs.

Lay

To bet; wager.

Lay

(Nonstandard) To lie.

Lay

(Nautical) To put oneself into the position indicated.

Lay

Past tense of lie1.

Lay

The direction the strands of a rope or cable are twisted in
A left lay.

Lay

The amount of such twist.

Lay

The state of one that lays eggs
A hen coming into lay.

Lay

A narrative poem, such as one sung by medieval minstrels; a ballad.

Lay

A song; a tune.

Lay

Of, relating to, or involving the laity
A lay preacher.

Lay

Not of or belonging to a particular profession; nonprofessional
A lay opinion as to the seriousness of the disease.

Lay

(transitive) To place down in a position of rest, or in a horizontal position.
To lay a book on the table;
To lay a body in the grave
A shower of rain lays the dust.

Lay

To cause to subside or abate.

Lay

(transitive) To prepare (a plan, project etc.); to set out, establish (a law, principle).

Lay

(transitive) To install certain building materials, laying one thing on top of another.
Lay brick;
Lay flooring

Lay

(transitive) To produce and deposit an egg.
The hen laid an egg
Did dinosaurs lay their eggs in a nest?

Lay

(transitive) To bet (that something is or is not the case).
I'll lay that he doesn't turn up on Monday.

Lay

(transitive) To deposit (a stake) as a wager; to stake; to risk.

Lay

(nautical) To take a position; to come or go.
To lay forward;
To lay aloft

Lay

(legal) To state; to allege.
To lay the venue

Lay

(military) To point; to aim.
To lay a gun

Lay

(ropemaking) To put the strands of (a rope, a cable, etc.) in their proper places and twist or unite them.
To lay a cable or rope

Lay

(printing) To place and arrange (pages) for a form upon the imposing stone.

Lay

(printing) To place (new type) properly in the cases.

Lay

To apply; to put.

Lay

To impose (a burden, punishment, command, tax, etc.).
To lay a tax on land

Lay

To impute; to charge; to allege.

Lay

To present or offer.
To lay an indictment in a particular county
I have laid the facts of the matter before you.

Lay

To lie: to rest in a horizontal position on a surface.
I found him laying on the floor.

Lay

When pertaining to position.
The baby lay in its crib and slept silently.

Lay

(proscribed) To be in a horizontal position; to lie (from confusion with lie).

Lay

To don or put on (tefillin phylacteries]]).

Lay

Arrangement or relationship; layout.
The lay of the land

Lay

A share of the profits in a business.

Lay

The direction a rope is twisted.
Worm and parcel with the lay; turn and serve the other way.

Lay

A place or activity where someone spends a significant portion of their time.

Lay

The laying of eggs.
The hens are off the lay at present.

Lay

(obsolete) A layer.

Lay

(obsolete) A basis or ground.

Lay

A lake.

Lay

A ballad or sung poem; a short poem or narrative, usually intended to be sung.

Lay

A lyrical, narrative poem written in octosyllabic couplets that often deals with tales of adventure and romance.

Lay

(obsolete) A meadow; a lea.

Lay

(obsolete) A law.

Lay

(obsolete) An obligation; a vow.

Lay

Not belonging to the clergy, but associated with them.
They seemed more lay than clerical.
A lay preacher; a lay brother

Lay

Non-professional; not being a member of an organized institution.

Lay

(card games) Not trumps.
A lay suit

Lay

(obsolete) Not educated or cultivated; ignorant.

Lay

Of Lie, to recline.

Lay

Of or pertaining to the laity, as distinct from the clergy; as, a lay person; a lay preacher; a lay brother.

Lay

Not educated or cultivated; ignorant.

Lay

Not belonging to, or emanating from, a particular profession; unprofessional; as, a lay opinion regarding the nature of a disease.

Lay

A song; a simple lyrical poem; a ballad.

Lay

A melody; any musical utterance.
The throstle cock made eke his lay.

Lay

The laity; the common people.
The learned have no more privilege than the lay.

Lay

A meadow. See Lea.

Lay

Faith; creed; religious profession.
Of the sect to which that he was bornHe kept his lay, to which that he was sworn.

Lay

A law.

Lay

An obligation; a vow.
They bound themselves by a sacred lay and oath.

Lay

That which lies or is laid or is conceived of as having been laid or placed in its position; a row; a stratum; a layer; as, a lay of stone or wood.
A viol should have a lay of wire strings below.

Lay

A wager.

Lay

A job, price, or profit.

Lay

A measure of yarn; a lea. See 1st Lea (a).

Lay

A plan; a scheme.

Lay

To cause to lie down, to be prostrate, or to lie against something; to put or set down; to deposit; as, to lay a book on the table; to lay a body in the grave; a shower lays the dust.
A stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den.
Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid.

Lay

To place in position; to establish firmly; to arrange with regularity; to dispose in ranks or tiers; as, to lay a corner stone; to lay bricks in a wall; to lay the covers on a table.

Lay

To prepare; to make ready; to contrive; to provide; as, to lay a snare, an ambush, or a plan.

Lay

To spread on a surface; as, to lay plaster or paint.

Lay

To cause to be still; to calm; to allay; to suppress; to exorcise, as an evil spirit.
After a tempest when the winds are laid.

Lay

To cause to lie dead or dying.
Brave Cæneus laid Ortygius on the plain,The victor Cæneus was by Turnus slain.

Lay

To deposit, as a wager; to stake; to risk.
I dare lay mine honorHe will remain so.

Lay

To bring forth and deposit; as, to lay eggs.

Lay

To apply; to put.
She layeth her hands to the spindle.

Lay

To impose, as a burden, suffering, or punishment; to assess, as a tax; as, to lay a tax on land.
The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Lay

To impute; to charge; to allege.
God layeth not folly to them.
Lay the fault on us.

Lay

To impose, as a command or a duty; as, to lay commands on one.

Lay

To present or offer; as, to lay an indictment in a particular county; to lay a scheme before one.

Lay

To state; to allege; as, to lay the venue.

Lay

To point; to aim; as, to lay a gun.

Lay

To put the strands of (a rope, a cable, etc.) in their proper places and twist or unite them; as, to lay a cable or rope.

Lay

To place and arrange (pages) for a form upon the imposing stone.
And laid those proud roofs bare to summer's rain.
Let brave spirits . . . not be laid by.
No selfish man will be concerned to lay out himself for the good of his country.

Lay

To produce and deposit eggs.

Lay

To take a position; to come or go; as, to lay forward; to lay aloft.

Lay

To lay a wager; to bet.

Lay

A narrative song with a recurrent refrain

Lay

A narrative poem of popular origin

Lay

Put into a certain place or abstract location;
Put your things here
Set the tray down
Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children
Place emphasis on a certain point

Lay

Put in a horizontal position;
Lay the books on the table
Lay the patient carefully onto the bed

Lay

Prepare or position for action or operation;
Lay a fire
Lay the foundation for a new health care plan

Lay

Lay eggs;
This hen doesn't lay

Lay

Impose as a duty, burden, or punishment;
Lay a responsibility on someone

Lay

Concerning those not members of the clergy;
Set his collar in laic rather than clerical position
The lay ministry
The choir sings both sacred and secular music

Lay

Not of or from a profession;
A lay opinion as to the cause of the disease

Common Curiosities

Can secular individuals participate in religious activities?

Yes, secular individuals may participate in religious activities, though their approach is typically non-spiritual.

What does lay mean in a religious context?

Lay refers to individuals who are not ordained clergy but participate in religious communities.

How do secular laws differ from religious laws?

Secular laws are created based on societal norms and governance needs, independent of religious doctrines.

How are secular holidays determined?

Secular holidays are usually established to commemorate historical events, national achievements, or cultural traditions, independent of religious significance.

Can lay people hold positions in religious organizations?

Yes, lay individuals can hold various non-clerical positions within religious organizations.

What is the significance of secular in education?

Secular education emphasizes a curriculum that is neutral and not influenced by religious teachings.

What role do lay people play in religious education?

Lay individuals can teach religious subjects or contribute to religious education without being ordained clergy.

What defines a secular government?

A secular government is one that operates independently of religious institutions and does not base its laws on any religious texts or authorities.

Is it possible for something to be both lay and secular?

While lay pertains specifically to the non-clerical religious context, secular denotes a complete separation from religious aspects.

How does secular music differ from religious music?

Secular music focuses on themes unrelated to spiritual beliefs, while religious music is devoted to worship or spiritual reflection.

What distinguishes secular ethics from religious ethics?

Secular ethics are based on human reasoning and societal consensus, whereas religious ethics are derived from religious texts and traditions.

Can secular values influence religious communities?

Yes, secular values, such as pluralism and tolerance, can influence the way religious communities interact with wider society.

How do secular organizations contribute to society?

Secular organizations contribute to society through social services, education, and advocacy for human rights and social justice, independent of religious motivations.

Can lay individuals lead religious ceremonies?

Lay individuals may lead certain ceremonies, especially in communities where clergy are not readily available, but this varies by religion.

How do secular and religious views on morality differ?

Secular morality is often grounded in humanistic principles, while religious morality is typically based on divine commandments and religious doctrines.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Urooj Arif
Urooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.

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