The study of the dynamics of linguistic expressions genetically linked to the religious sphere or possessing corresponding connotations allows us not only to identify significant trends in culture (such as secularization or re-religionization) but also to trace the transformation of attitudes towards fundamental culture-forming concepts. One of the key notions within the cultural area of Abrahamic religions is “sin”. The analysis of the process of semantic transformation of this category demanded a specification of the empirical base. This article examines the functional features of phraseological units containing the lexeme “sin” in the secular discourse of the Russian language. The choice of phraseological material is justified by the fact that phraseology, as a set of fixed expressions, reflects collective perceptions of the world, and changes in their usage serve as indicators of ongoing cultural transformations. During the research, a survey was conducted involving two groups of native Russian speakers (“practicing Christians” and “others”), totaling 200 participants. Processing the obtained data confirmed a tendency towards desacralizing the concept of “sin”. The results also indicate the predominance of moralizing attitudes in secular discourse, where the evaluation of an action is primarily determined by its conformity to social norms rather than religious canon.

Key words: sin, secular and religious discourse, religious concepts, semantic field, phraseology, interpretation

DOI: 10.22250/20728662-2026-1-178-189

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About the authors

Tatiana S. Silantieva – Postgraduate student of the Department of Philosophy n.a. A.F. Shishkin, Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia (MGIMO); 76 Vernadsky Ave., Moscow, 119454, Russia; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Arseniy A. Belomytsev – PhD in Philosophy, Independent researcher; Head of the Department for the Prevention of Extremism at the Directorate for Monitoring Interethnic and Interfaith Relations, Prevention of Extremism, and Cooperation with Religious Organizations of the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs. build. 2, 10 Presnenskaya Emb., Moscow, 125039, Russia; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.