séculaires

Seculaires is a term derived from the Latin word saeculum, meaning an age or a generation, and broadly refers to things pertaining to a secular age or, more commonly, to the worldly or temporal rather than the spiritual or religious. In historical contexts, particularly within Christianity, it could refer to members of the clergy who lived in the world (saeculum) rather than in monastic cloisters. These priests, for instance, were not bound by monastic vows and typically served the wider community in parishes.

The concept of secularism as a distinct ideology emerged much later, advocating for the separation of religious institutions from state affairs and for the exclusion of religious influence from public life and education. This modern understanding of secularism emphasizes neutrality and equal treatment of all religions and non-religious beliefs. The term can also be used more generally to describe any non-religious aspect of life, such as secular music or secular education, contrasting with religious music or religious instruction. It signifies a focus on earthly matters, human affairs, and the material world, as opposed to a focus on the divine or afterlife.