secularism

Everyday

1. The belief that religion should be kept separate from government, public schools and laws. tree →
2. A way of living or thinking that is not based on religion. tree →

In the lessons

In religious education, citizenship and history lessons secularism explains why, for example, the USA and France keep church and state apart, while the UK has an official church (the Church of England) but many secular laws. A secular state lets people of any faith or none live freely. Phrases: «secularism and religion», «a secular state».

Examples

• France has strong rules of secularism in its schools. tree →
• Secularism means the government does not favour any religion. tree →
• Some people support secularism; others want religion in public life. tree →
• The USA's founders wrote secularism into the constitution by separating church and state. tree →
• Secularism does not mean being against religion. tree →
• Our class debated secularism in schools. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Adjective: «secular» (not religious). Trap: secularism is about how a country is run, and secular people can still respect faith. A «secularist» supports it.