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laicism

laicism

9.9
Keeping religion separate from government and places like schools
  • noun
  • /ˈleɪɪsɪzəm/
  • Formal
translation icon : laicismo
  • The principle of laicism is crucial for maintaining freedom of belief in democratic societies.
  • principle of laicism
  • laicism or secularism

Examples

  • While the degree of success in this endeavor is debatable in both countries, the principle of laicism or state secularism is officially and popularly supported in Turkey and Israel and enjoys a prominent place in national history, identity, and mythology.

    Academic text (2000)
  • In France, laicism ensures that public schools do not endorse any particular religion.

  • In its decision, the Turkish court argued that laicism is not only a separation between religion and politics but also a necessary division between religion and society.

    Academic text (2000)
  • However, very strict laicism/secularism, as a reaction to the Ottoman religious administration system, also brought certain restrictions on religious life.

    Academic text (2015)
  • The state, especially the military and judiciary, has established itself as a protector of laicism, and therefore has the right to limit these practices in the public sphere.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Despite laicism, the Turkish state has not been able to overcome the segregation of non-Muslim minorities and integrate them into the nation as citizens with equal rights.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Where secularism in the United States strives for a complete separation of church and state, laicism (laiklik) in Turkey strives to bring religion under the control of the state.

    Academic text (2008)
  • For instance, Article 136 of the constitution states that the "Directorate shall exercise its functions and duties in accordance with the principle of laicism." The state controls all eighty thousand mosques in Turkey and employs the imams as state functionaries.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The government's commitment to laicism means that religious symbols are not allowed in public institutions.

Synonyms

secularism
vslaicism
16 6.8

The idea that religion should not be part of government, schools, or public life

is the belief or policy of keeping religion out of government institutions
secularity
vslaicism
1 7.2

A state of being not connected to religion

is a public policy belief about institutional separation not personal nonbelief
anticlericalism
vslaicism
1 9.9

Opposition to religious leaders having power in public and political life

focuses on separating religion as an institution from government broadly
separationism
vslaicism
8.8

Support for keeping government and religion apart

supports separation too but with less emphasis on strictness

How Supportive

church-state
1 8.3
accommodationism
  • Formal
9.9
neutrality
22 4.4
laicism
  • Formal
9.9

Surface Forms

laicism singular
laicisms plural

Morphology

laicism = laic (transparent) = laic + ism

Formed by the adjective 'laic' plus the ideological noun suffix '-ism', so the meaning as a doctrine or policy follows standard English derivation.

Etymology

Laicism comes from the French laïc, meaning 'not part of the church', which itself comes from the Greek laikos, meaning 'of the people' and the same root as English lay and laity. So, laicism is the idea that religion should be private and kept separate from government.