Weltlich

Weltlich is a German adjective meaning worldly or secular. It denotes matters, institutions, or perspectives associated with the ordinary, non-religious sphere of life, as opposed to the spiritual or clerical realm. In religious and historical discourse, weltlich is commonly contrasted with geistlich, which refers to things pertaining to the church, sacred matters, or the clergy. The noun form Weltlichkeit expresses the concept of worldliness or secularism.

Originating from the Old High German weltlîh, formed from welt (world) plus the suffix -lîch, weltlich evolved through Middle High German into modern usage. The term retains a strong semantic pairing with geistlich in many contexts.

In ecclesiastical settings, weltlich describes secular authority, civil life, and lay offices, as opposed to the church’s spiritual authority or rites. In philosophy or sociology, it can refer to the conditions of life in the secular world, or to worldly values and concerns as distinct from ascetic or religious ideals.

Today, weltlich can still describe secular institutions, education, or culture. Examples include weltliche Musik (secular music), weltliche Bildung (secular education), or weltliche Feier (civil ceremony), contrasted with kirchliche or geistliche counterparts. The term also appears in discussions of the separation of church and state.