secularizing
Stripping religious influence
Secularizing means making something less religious or removing it from religious control.
A government secularizes education by replacing religious instruction with civic curriculum.
A society secularizes as church attendance declines and religious authority weakens in public life.
The rapid secularizing of Western Europe accelerated after World War II.
Withdrawal of official status
- separationState of being apart
- deconsecrationRemoval of sacred status
- privatizationState sells public assets
- nationalizationGovernment acquisition of industry
expropriation · reform · transition · conversion · transformation · dechristianization
Absence of faith
- agnosticismDoubt about divine existence
- atheismRejection of deities
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
nonbelief · indifference · apostasy · deconversion · disenchantment · disaffiliation · unchurched · nones
Philosophy prioritizing earthly reason
- freethoughtReason-based belief formation
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
- naturalismWorldview excluding the supernatural
- materialismPrioritizing goods over spirit
pluralism · liberalism · progressivism · anticlericalism · nonsectarianism · egalitarianism · universalism · cosmopolitanism
Adoption of current methods
- urbanizationPopulation shift toward cities
- industrializationTransition to factory-based economy
- globalizationWorldwide economic and cultural integration
- democratizationTransition toward popular rule
individualism · consumerism · science · technology · enlightenment · literacy · media · diversification
Places of learning
- hospitalsInstitutions treating the sick
- universitiesInstitutions granting advanced degrees
- governmentAuthority over a state
- courtsJudicial bodies or playing areas
marriage · cemeteries · charities · education · welfare · healthcare · orphanages · legislation
disestablishment
Withdrawal of official status
- separationState of being apart
- deconsecrationRemoval of sacred status
- privatizationState sells public assets
nationalization · expropriation · reform · transition · conversion · transformation · dechristianization
irreligion
Absence of faith
- agnosticismDoubt about divine existence
- atheismRejection of deities
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
disbelief · nonbelief · indifference · apostasy · deconversion · disenchantment · disaffiliation · unchurched · nones
humanism
Philosophy prioritizing earthly reason
- freethoughtReason-based belief formation
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
- naturalismWorldview excluding the supernatural
materialism · pluralism · liberalism · progressivism · anticlericalism · nonsectarianism · egalitarianism · universalism · cosmopolitanism
modernization
Adoption of current methods
- urbanizationPopulation shift toward cities
- industrializationTransition to factory-based economy
- globalizationWorldwide economic and cultural integration
democratization · individualism · consumerism · science · technology · enlightenment · literacy · media · diversification · liberalization
schools
Places of learning
- hospitalsInstitutions treating the sick
- universitiesInstitutions granting advanced degrees
- governmentAuthority over a state
courts · marriage · cemeteries · charities · education · welfare · healthcare · orphanages · legislation · constitution
secularizingsanctifying
Making sacred or holy
consecrating · Christianizing · spiritualizing · hallowing · theologizing
secularizingconsecrating
Making officially holy
sanctifying · hallowing · blessing · dedicating · enshrining
secular, disenchant, secularism, nonsectarian, secularist, secularization, secularize, secularity, secularists