secular existence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "secular existence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a life or state of being that is not influenced by religious beliefs or practices. Example: "In a secular existence, individuals often seek meaning and purpose through personal experiences and relationships rather than through religious frameworks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I've always read this novel as Vedanta without the religion — that is, a vision of a thoroughly secular existence in a book that contains not a single Hindu reference but that becomes coherent only if one invokes ideas like maya (illusion), atman (the essential soul) and karma (the moral record that passes on from one life to the next).

The New York Times - Books

The story introduces Stephon Chaney as the protagonist who, after living a secular existence for much of his young adult life, gave his life to God.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The union of the English and Scottish crowns in James I in 1603 and the removal of the Scottish court to England deprived writers of the court patronage that, in the absence of a wealthy and leisured middle class, was indispensable to the continued existence of secular literature in the vernacular.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Sri Lanka's secular trends suggest the existence of a period effect, especially in women, based on the availability of highly toxic pesticide.

BMC Public Health

For him, spirituality is not some isolated aspect of existence, distinct from secular experience; it is, instead, inextricable from the secular, a way of moving through, of being in, the world.

Los Angeles Times

Can existence not exist?

WikiHow

And you can't write "A Midsummer Night's Dream" until English secular comedy has come into existence.

The New York Times - Magazine

The reason for the terror is the existence of the secular state model best exemplified by the United States.

The New York Times - Magazine

There has always been a debate over what literature is and what's it for, because it is a mysterious thing, and the mysterious side of existence, certainly for secular people, is not an urgent problem.

The New Yorker

"There can be no reconciliation unless both peoples, two communities of suffering, resolve that their existence is a secular fact, and that it has to be dealt with as such".

The New York Times - Arts

Hayat Shah, an impressionable adolescent and the only child of a well-to-do, secular family, finds his comfortable existence upended by the arrival of his mother's childhood friend Mina Ali and her son Imran, who have fled a life of abuse and repression in Pakistan.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing personal values, use "secular existence" to clearly indicate a worldview grounded in reason and ethics rather than religious doctrine.

Common error

Avoid using "secular existence" interchangeably with "atheist existence" or "agnostic existence." While related, secularism focuses on the separation of religion from governance and public life, while atheism is disbelief in God and agnosticism is the view that the existence of God is unknown or unknowable. "Secular existence" focuses on the life lived outside of religious doctrine.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "secular existence" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "secular" modifies "existence". It describes a state of being or life lived without religious influence, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "secular existence" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a life or state of being that is not governed by religious beliefs or practices. As Ludwig confirms, this term appears in various authoritative sources, including news media and encyclopedias. While the term is not particularly common, it serves to highlight a separation from religious influence. When using the phrase, it's crucial to differentiate it from related concepts like atheism or agnosticism, as "secular existence" emphasizes the absence of religious governance rather than a specific stance on belief in God. Alternative phrases include "worldly life" or "non-religious life", which may be more appropriate depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

non-religious life

Focuses more directly on the absence of religious influence.

irreligious life

Directly states the lack of religious practice or belief.

worldly life

Emphasizes engagement with the material world, downplaying the spiritual aspect.

temporal life

Highlights the finite and transient nature of existence, contrasting it with eternal or spiritual realms.

material existence

Stresses the physical and tangible aspects of life, devoid of spiritual or religious significance.

profane existence

Contrasts with the sacred, emphasizing a non-holy, everyday experience.

humanistic existence

Highlights a focus on human values and reason rather than religious doctrine.

civilian life

Highlights a non-military, ordinary way of life, especially after a period of conflict.

naturalistic existence

Highlights reliance on natural laws and phenomena rather than supernatural beliefs.

lay existence

Emphasizes that the existence is one of a nonordained member.

FAQs

How can I describe a life without religious influence?

You can describe a life without religious influence using the term "secular existence", which emphasizes a life lived outside of religious doctrine.

What is the difference between "secular life" and "secular existence"?

"Secular life" generally refers to the aspects of life separate from religious institutions, while "secular existence" encompasses the entire state of being lived without religious influence.

Is "secular existence" the same as being atheist?

No, "secular existence" isn't necessarily the same as being atheist. Secularism focuses on the separation of religion from public life, while atheism is the disbelief in the existence of God. A person living a "secular life" might still hold personal religious beliefs.

What are some alternatives to "secular existence"?

Alternatives to "secular existence" include "worldly life", "temporal life", or "non-religious life", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.