secularreligious

Secularreligious is a neologism used to describe a mode of life, organization, or discourse that blends secular, worldly frameworks with religiously inflected meaning, ritual, or obligation. It refers to phenomena where religious sensibilities persist or emerge within settings that are not formally religious, or where secular institutions adopt or adapt religious forms without confessional commitment.

Usage and contexts: The term appears in sociological and cultural analyses of modern societies, where public life (education, philanthropy, civic rituals, cultural festivals) adopts symbols, ethics, or practices derived from religious traditions while maintaining secular governance and outlook. Examples include civil ceremonies that employ quasi-religious gravitas, ethical frameworks inspired by religious traditions without scriptures, or communities that sustain religious identity through culture, memory, and community service rather than creedal membership.

Relation to secularism and religiosity: Secularreligious is distinct from secularism (which emphasizes separation of church and state and the primacy of non-religious public reasoning) and from traditional religiosity (doctrinal belief and organized worship). It describes hybrids where religious language or forms serve secular aims or where secular life adopts religious cadence.

Criticism and debates: Critics argue that secularreligious blurs boundaries, risking instrumentalization of religious symbols for political or social projects. Proponents claim it expresses pluralism and moral seriousness in pluralist societies. Debates focus on authenticity, neutrality of public institutions, and questions about meaning-making in a post-secular world.

See also: civil religion, secularism, religious pluralism, secular spirituality.