sociaalreligieus

Sociaalreligieus is a Dutch term used to describe the interaction between religion and society, or a posture in which religious beliefs, values, and institutions inform social life and public action. The concept is often written sociaal-religieus or sociaalreligieus, with hyphenation commonly used in academic writing to signal the compound nature of the idea. It encompasses both individual attitudes and organized movements that connect faith with social concern.

In scholarly usage, sociaalreligieus refers to approaches that emphasize social justice, solidarity, and service as central religious duties. It can describe religious actors—such as churches, denominations, or faith-based organizations—that engage in social services, advocacy, or development work, guided by religious ethics. It also appears in analyses of secular society’s reception of religious public action, including debates about the rightful role of religion in politics, education, or welfare.

Examples include the social gospel tradition in Protestant history, liberation theology in Latin American Catholicism, and contemporary faith-based initiatives addressing poverty, health care, and human rights. The term is also used to study interfaith cooperation and the secularization of social care, as religious groups partner with public institutions to address social needs.

See also: Sociology of religion, Liberation theology, Social gospel, Faith-based organizations.