Easter is celebrated this year on Sunday, April 20. Many families in Canada will observe that day (or the weekend) with gatherings and events. Although Easter is a Christian festival, it can be celebrated in a secular manner by anyone.
Secular means relating to the earthly life as opposed to the religious or spiritual. Secular is derived from the Latin word saecularis, meaning of the world. Secular was used in 13th century English to indicate the world as opposed to the Church. Medieval Europe labelled judicial courts and landowners as secular if they were not ecclesiastical or clerical.
In contemporary English, secular is primarily used to distinguish an attitude, belief, or position that is not specifically religious or spiritual in nature. Music with no religious connection or affiliation may be described as secular. Buildings that have no religious function may be called secular.
In ancient Rome the celebratory games that occurred once every century or similarly long period were described as saeculum, meaning relating to an age or period. The field of astronomy uses secular in a way that denotes slow changes in the motion of the sun or planets or celestial phenomena. Secular evolution in galaxies, driven by internal processes like spiral arms, bars, or galactic winds, leads to changes in their structure and distribution of stars, gas, and dust. A fluctuation or trend occurring or persisting over an indefinitely long period is secular in economics. There is evidence that the slump in the markets is not cyclical but secular. Perhaps the use of tariffs by President Trump may be secular.
Indifference to or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations is secularism rather than secular. In France, especially, tensions between some sections of Islam and an interpretation of secular values have become more pronounced in recent years. France is a secular country in that it claims it is officially neutral in matters of religion, supporting neither religion nor the absence of it, as well as not having a state religion.
Secular and atheist are not synonyms. Secular is most often used as an adjective, while atheist is mostly found as a noun. Atheistic and atheistical are the common adjective forms. An atheist, though they may be spiritual, is a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods.
Synonyms of secular can be nonreligious, profane, and temporal.
Nonreligious means not having a church going nature but does not imply a lack of spirituality. In these troubling times we all need to stand together, religious and nonreligious, to generate ideas for a world where political solutions are viable, not violence.
Profane is often associated with the meaning to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt. However, profane also implies not concerned with religion or religious purposes. Christians can find it hard to juggle the requirements of church and our more profane duties when they come into conflict with each other.
Temporal is relating to earthly life. Temporal existence is often contrasted with spiritual existence, which many religions teach is eternal.
For Christians Easter is the central festival of the year from which all other observances and celebrations are derived. Numerous services are offered on the days around Easter Sunday to highlight the importance of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus for the Church. Families make extra effort to attend the various services with their church families and then celebrate at home with special meals and Easter events. Our family has the tradition of colouring Easter eggs prior to Easter Sunday, attending Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday services, and relishing the goodies in each person’s Easter basket.
Many families, despite not 小蓝视频 religious, will still celebrate Easter, as it is a holiday time in Canada. Easter Sunday usually occurs shortly after the beginning of Spring. New life is everywhere, the feeling of hope and light after Winter, and the celebratory feel of the longer days abounds.
Secular families can dye or paint some eggs for a colourful Easter table. Secular communities often organize an Easter egg hunt. Parents or grandparents can hide eggs and chocolates around the house, even outside if weather permits. Special meals can be prepared and enjoyed by extended families together for the long weekend. Tables can be decorated with bulbs or fresh flowers.
Even in a country like Japan, with only 0.7% of the population 小蓝视频 Christian, Easter is recognized by the culture. There is no time off from work for people around Easter, but themes of bunnies, egg hunts, chocolate eggs, and enjoying plentiful food and drink with family and friends often takes place around the country in a secular manner.
John would like to know if anyone has a sincere interest in a relevant word that he could possibly research for an upcoming column. If so, please send your requests to [email protected] . Words will be selected according to relevance and research criteria. We cannot confirm that all words will be used.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
