Monastic vs. Secular — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 5, 2024
Monastic refers to a way of life in religious communities, often characterized by devotion and seclusion, whereas secular pertains to activities or attitudes not connected to religious or spiritual matters.
Difference Between Monastic and Secular
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Monastic life is centered around religious devotion, often within the confines of a monastery where monks or nuns live under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. On the other hand, secular life involves the pursuit of activities related to worldly rather than spiritual affairs, focusing on everyday social, economic, and cultural events.
Monastic individuals usually withdraw from the general society to dedicate themselves fully to spiritual activities, prayer, and meditation. Conversely, secular individuals engage actively with the broader society, often prioritizing personal, professional, or social responsibilities over religious commitments.
The monastic approach often emphasizes community living where all resources are shared, and personal possessions are minimal or non-existent. In contrast, secular life usually supports individualism and the accumulation of personal wealth and properties as markers of success.
Education within monastic settings is typically focused on religious texts, spiritual teachings, and doctrines. Whereas, secular education covers a broad spectrum of disciplines, including science, humanities, and arts, without religious or spiritual content.
Monastic life often follows a strict daily routine with defined times for prayers, meals, and other communal activities. Meanwhile, secular life tends to be more flexible, with individuals setting their own schedules based on personal or professional needs.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Pertaining to monks, nuns, and their way of life in a religious community.
Unrelated to religious or spiritual matters.
Lifestyle
Community-oriented, with a focus on spiritual devotion.
Individualistic and world-focused.
Goals
Spiritual enlightenment and religious duties.
Personal, professional, and societal advancement.
Education
Centered on religious teachings.
Broad and diverse, covering various academic disciplines.
Daily Routine
Structured around communal and religious activities.
Flexible, dictated by personal or social commitments.
Compare with Definitions
Monastic
Relating to monks, nuns, and their way of life.
The monastic traditions of the Tibetan Buddhists are well-known.
Secular
Civil, not ecclesiastical.
Secular law governs most civil disputes.
Monastic
Associated with life in a monastery.
She visited the ancient monastic ruins on her trip.
Secular
Non-religious in approach or content.
The school provides a strictly secular education.
Monastic
Focused on spiritual practices and religious devotion.
Monastic life revolves around prayer, work, and community living.
Secular
Not connected with religious or spiritual matters.
The debate was held on secular ethics versus religious morals.
Monastic
Characterized by asceticism and solitude.
He chose a monastic lifestyle away from modern society’s distractions.
Secular
Concerned with the here and now.
Secular activists focus on immediate societal issues.
Monastic
Living under vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience.
The monks’ monastic vows were a commitment for life.
Secular
Pertaining to worldly things.
His interests are mainly secular, focusing on politics and science.
Monastic
Of, relating to, or characteristic of a monastery. Used often of monks and nuns.
Secular
Worldly rather than spiritual
The secular affairs of the parish.
Monastic
Secluded and contemplative.
Secular
Not relating to religion or to a religious body; nonreligious
Secular music.
Monastic
Strictly disciplined or regimented.
Secular
Not bound by the full monastic rule of a religious order. Used of clergy.
Monastic
Self-abnegating; austere.
Secular
Relating to or advocating secularism.
Monastic
A monk.
Secular
Occurring or observed once in an age or century, as games in ancient Rome.
Monastic
Of or relating to monasteries or monks.
New monastic people
Secular
Lasting or persisting for a long time
A secular bear market.
Monastic
A person with monastic ways; a monk.
Secular
(Astronomy) Of or relating to characteristics of astronomical phenomena that change slowly over time.
Monastic
A monk.
Secular
A member of the secular clergy.
Monastic
Of or pertaining to monasteries, or to their occupants, rules, etc., as, monastic institutions or rules.
Secular
A layperson.
Monastic
Secluded from temporal concerns and devoted to religion; recluse.
Secular
Not specifically religious; lay or civil, as opposed to clerical.
Monastic
A male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work
Secular
Temporal; worldly, or otherwise not based on something timeless.
Monastic
Of communal life sequestered from the world under religious vows
Secular
(Christianity) Not bound by the vows of a monastic order.
Secular clergy in Catholicism
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.
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
Secular
(literary) Centuries-old, ancient.
Secular
Relating to long-term non-periodic irregularities, especially in planetary motion or magnetic field.
Secular
(atomic physics) Unperturbed over time.
Secular
A secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by monastic rules.
Secular
A church official whose functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir.
Secular
A layman, as distinguished from a clergyman.
Secular
Coming or observed once in an age or a century.
The secular year was kept but once a century.
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.
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.
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.
Secular
Belonging to the laity; lay; not clerical.
I speak of folk in secular estate.
Secular
A secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by monastic rules.
Secular
A church official whose functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir.
Secular
A layman, as distinguished from a clergyman.
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
Common Curiosities
How does secular education differ from monastic education?
Secular education is broad and diverse, covering non-religious subjects, while monastic education focuses primarily on religious teachings and practices.
What are the main goals of secular living?
The main goals of secular living are personal and professional advancement, societal participation, and enjoyment of worldly pleasures.
What does secularism say about religion?
Secularism advocates for separation between religious institutions and state affairs, allowing freedom of religion and non-religion alike.
Can a secular person be religious?
Yes, secular people can hold religious beliefs but often distinguish these from their public and professional lives.
What defines a monastic lifestyle?
A monastic lifestyle is defined by living in a religious community, often a monastery, and following strict religious disciplines and vows.
How does the daily routine in monastic and secular lives compare?
Monastic life features a structured routine centered around religious practices, whereas secular life routines are more varied and personalized.
How do monastic and secular views on wealth differ?
Monasticism often involves vows of poverty and communal living, whereas secular life usually permits and often encourages wealth accumulation.
Can monastic individuals participate in secular activities?
While monastic individuals may engage in some secular activities, their primary focus remains on their religious duties and community life.
Why do people choose monastic life?
People choose monastic life for deeper spiritual fulfillment, religious dedication, and a desire to live in accordance with specific religious vows.
What role do secular laws play in religious communities?
Secular laws govern the broader civil context in which religious communities operate, ensuring rights and responsibilities are upheld irrespective of religious laws.
Is monasticism relevant in all religions?
Monasticism is most prevalent in religions like Buddhism, Christianity, and Hinduism, though not all religions have monastic traditions.
What impact does secularism have on society?
Secularism promotes a pluralistic society where people of different religious and non-religious backgrounds can coexist peacefully.
Can secular education include religious studies?
Yes, secular education can include religious studies as an academic discipline without endorsing any religious viewpoint.
What is the significance of community in monastic life?
Community in monastic life is essential for mutual support, shared spiritual growth, and maintaining religious practices.
How do secular values influence global issues?
Secular values often influence global issues through policies that prioritize human rights, scientific approaches to problems, and an emphasis on ethical standards without religious bias.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj 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
Maham Liaqat
