Secular vs. Worldly — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 21, 2024
Secular focuses on aspects unrelated to religion or spirituality, emphasizing non-religious contexts. Worldly, on the other hand, pertains to material or earthly interests, often contrasted with spiritual values.
Difference Between Secular and Worldly
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Secular refers to anything not associated with religion, religious beliefs, or spiritual practices. It is often used to describe concepts, institutions, or attitudes that operate independently of religious influences. Worldly, whereas, denotes a focus on materialistic and temporal concerns, interests, or possessions, rather than spiritual or eternal ones.
In the context of education or government, secular implies a separation from religious affiliations or endorsements, aiming for neutrality in religious matters. This separation ensures that decisions and policies are made without religious bias. On the other hand, worldly knowledge or perspectives are those that emphasize practical or immediate experiences and concerns, often highlighting the importance of financial success, physical health, and personal pleasure over spiritual or moral considerations.
Secularism advocates for a public sphere free from the influence of religious institutions and doctrines, promoting a society based on reason, science, and humanistic values. Worldliness, conversely, often carries a connotation of being overly concerned with one's social status, physical pleasures, and material wealth, sometimes to the detriment of moral or ethical considerations.
While secularism is celebrated in many societies for fostering inclusivity and diversity by not privileging any religion over another, worldliness is frequently critiqued for leading to a disconnection from spiritual values and a deeper sense of purpose or meaning in life. Worldly pursuits are often seen as shallow or short-sighted in philosophical or religious discussions.
Although both terms can imply a departure from traditional religious or spiritual values, secular is more neutral, often seen as a foundational principle for pluralistic societies. Worldly, however, usually implies a preoccupation with the immediate and tangible aspects of life, potentially neglecting the spiritual or moral dimensions.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Not connected with religious or spiritual matters.
Concerned with material values or ordinary life and not spiritual.
Focus
Neutrality in religious matters.
Materialistic and temporal interests.
Context of Usage
Education, government, and public institutions.
Individual lifestyle and personal choices.
Connotation
Neutral or positive, promoting inclusivity.
Often negative, associated with materialism.
Relation to Spirituality
Separation from or independence of spirituality.
Contrast or indifference to spirituality.
Compare with Definitions
Secular
Pertaining to non-religious or non-spiritual matters.
The constitution guarantees secular education for everyone.
Worldly
Concerned with material rather than spiritual values.
Worldly possessions can't buy happiness.
Secular
Neutral in terms of religious beliefs.
The meeting aimed for a secular discourse on ethics.
Worldly
Devoted to temporal pleasures.
Worldly pleasures often distract from spiritual growth.
Secular
Independent of religious institutions.
She prefers working in a secular environment.
Worldly
Experienced in life, sophisticated.
His worldly wisdom was invaluable to the team.
Secular
Related to temporal or worldly matters, excluding religion.
Secular laws govern our civil rights.
Worldly
Relating to the earthly life.
She has a worldly perspective on success.
Secular
Emphasizing the separation of church and state.
Secularism is a foundational principle of our democracy.
Worldly
Pertaining to the affairs of the current world.
His interests are more worldly than spiritual.
Secular
Worldly rather than spiritual
The secular affairs of the parish.
Worldly
Of, relating to, or devoted to the material world, especially in contrast to spiritual concerns.
Secular
Not relating to religion or to a religious body; nonreligious
Secular music.
Worldly
Experienced in human affairs; sophisticated or worldly-wise
"an experienced and worldly man who had been almost everywhere" (Willa Cather).
Secular
Not bound by the full monastic rule of a religious order. Used of clergy.
Worldly
In a worldly manner.
Secular
Relating to or advocating secularism.
Worldly
Concerned with human or earthly matters, physical as opposed to spiritual.
Secular
Occurring or observed once in an age or century, as games in ancient Rome.
Worldly
Concerned with secular rather than sacred matters.
Secular
Lasting or persisting for a long time
A secular bear market.
Worldly
Sophisticated, especially because of surfeit; versed in the ways of the world.
Secular
(Astronomy) Of or relating to characteristics of astronomical phenomena that change slowly over time.
Worldly
In a worldly manner.
Secular
A member of the secular clergy.
Worldly
Relating to the world; human; common; as, worldly maxims; worldly actions.
Many years it hath continued, standing by no other worldly mean but that one only hand which erected it.
Secular
A layperson.
Worldly
Pertaining to this world or life, in contradistinction from the life to come; secular; temporal; devoted to this life and its enjoyments; bent on gain; as, worldly pleasures, affections, honor, lusts, men.
With his soul fled all my worldly solace.
Secular
Not specifically religious; lay or civil, as opposed to clerical.
Worldly
Lay, as opposed to clerical.
Secular
Temporal; worldly, or otherwise not based on something timeless.
Worldly
With relation to this life; in a worldly manner.
Subverting worldly strong and worldly wiseBy simply meek.
Secular
(Christianity) Not bound by the vows of a monastic order.
Secular clergy in Catholicism
Worldly
Characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world;
Worldly goods and advancement
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.
Worldly
Very sophisticated especially because of surfeit; versed in the ways of the world;
The blase traveler refers to the ocean he has crossed as `the pond'
The benefits of his worldly wisdom
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
Worldly
Concerned with secular rather than sacred matters;
Lords temporal and spiritual
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
Why is worldliness often viewed negatively?
Worldliness is often viewed negatively because it is associated with a preoccupation with materialistic values at the expense of spiritual or ethical development.
Can secular education include teaching about religions?
Yes, secular education can include teaching about religions from an academic and neutral perspective, without endorsing any religious beliefs.
Is secularism against religion?
No, secularism is not against religion; it advocates for the separation of religion from state and public institutions to ensure neutrality and inclusivity.
What does secular mean?
Secular refers to anything that is not connected with religious or spiritual matters.
What does it mean to have worldly experiences?
Having worldly experiences means being knowledgeable about or experienced in the diverse and practical aspects of life.
Can a person be both secular and worldly?
Yes, a person can be both secular, not adhering to religious beliefs in decision-making, and worldly, focused on materialistic and earthly concerns.
Is it possible to lead a worldly life without being materialistic?
Leading a worldly life often implies materialism, but it can also mean being well-rounded and experienced in life's various aspects without excessive focus on material wealth.
Is worldliness compatible with religious faith?
Compatibility depends on how one integrates material concerns with their spiritual or religious values; it's possible but requires a balanced approach.
What is a secular government?
A secular government is one that operates independently of religious institutions and does not endorse or favor any religion.
Can a religious person appreciate secular values?
Yes, a religious person can appreciate secular values, especially the principles of inclusivity, neutrality, and the separation of church and state.
Do worldly pursuits always conflict with spiritual goals?
Not necessarily; worldly pursuits can sometimes complement spiritual goals if they are approached with balance and ethical considerations.
What are the challenges of a secular approach in education?
Challenges include maintaining neutrality while addressing the cultural and religious diversity of students.
Why might someone prioritize worldly over spiritual values?
Someone might prioritize worldly values for personal fulfillment, practical concerns, or a belief in the importance of material success and comfort.
How does secularism impact society?
Secularism promotes inclusivity, diversity, and the neutral governance of society, free from religious biases.
How does secularism benefit religious freedom?
Secularism benefits religious freedom by ensuring that no single religion is privileged over others, allowing for a pluralistic society.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza 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.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
