Christlich

Christlich is a German adjective meaning "Christian" or "relating to Christ or to Christianity." It can describe people who follow Christianity, beliefs, institutions, or cultural phenomena influenced by Christian tradition. In religious language it commonly appears in phrases such as christliche Lehre (Christian doctrine) or christliche Kirchen (Christian churches). In secular discourse it is used to characterize values, ethics, or culture associated with Christian heritage, for example christliche Werte or christliche Kultur.

Etymology and origin: The term derives from Middle High German christlîch, from Christ + -lîch, and ultimately traces to the Latin Christianus via the Greek christianos. The word has long been part of German religious and intellectual vocabulary and remains widely used in modern German.

Usage and nuances: In German, christlich is broad and non-denominational, but it is not interchangeable with confessional terms such as katholisch (Catholic) or evangelisch (Lutheran/Protestant). The word can carry normative or value-laden connotations depending on context and speaker, especially in discussions about the role of Christianity in public life, education, or morality. It is common in phrases that denote heritage or influence, rather than strict doctrinal affiliation.

Related terms and compounds: Related forms include Christentum (Christianity) and christlicher Glaube (Christian faith). The adjective also appears in compounds such as christlich-demokratisch, used to describe political positions or parties that align with Christian-inspired values.