secularisation

Definition

The process by which religion loses its influence, authority, or presence within a society's public and political institutions.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'saecularis,' meaning 'of the age' or 'of the world,' which shifted from a religious contrast—'worldly' versus 'spiritual'—into a modern sociological term for the withdrawal of religious authority from public life.

In the news

In the article, the author uses the term to describe one trend in the global religious economy, contrasting it with sacralisation to show that religious influence is shifting rather than just disappearing.

Introducing International Relations: Religion and Culture

E-International Relations

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