Clericalism: meaning, definitions and examples
⛪
clericalism
[ ˈklɛrɪkəlɪzəm ]
religious practice
Clericalism is the belief in the privileges and authority of the clergy within the church or the governance of religious organizations. It often implies that clerics should hold significant power in religious and sometimes secular matters. Clericalism can lead to hierarchical structures in religious institutions, where the clergy's influence dominates over the laity's participation.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The historical impact of clericalism on church governance is profound.
- Clericalism has been criticized for limiting the voices of the laity in decision-making.
- Many religious reform movements arose in opposition to clericalism.
- Clericalism often leads to a disconnect between church leaders and the community.
Translations
Translations of the word "clericalism" in other languages:
🇵🇹 clericalismo
🇮🇳 धार्मिकता
🇩🇪 Klerikalismus
🇮🇩 klerikalisme
🇺🇦 клерикалізм
🇵🇱 klerykalizm
🇯🇵 聖職者主義
🇫🇷 cléricalisme
🇪🇸 clericalismo
🇹🇷 kiliseliğe bağlılık
🇰🇷 성직자주의
🇸🇦 الكهنوتية
🇨🇿 klérikalismus
🇸🇰 klérikalizmus
🇨🇳 神职主义
🇸🇮 klerikalizem
🇮🇸 prestur
🇰🇿 клерикализм
🇬🇪 კლერიკალიზმი
🇦🇿 klerikalizm
🇲🇽 clericalismo
Word origin
The term 'clericalism' originates from the clerical, referring to the clergy or religious officials, derived from the Latin word 'clericus', meaning 'clergyman'. The suffix '-ism' is used to denote a distinctive practice, system, or philosophy. In the context of the church, clericalism began to take shape in various religious traditions, especially during the Middle Ages when the power and influence of the clergy were at their peak. Clergy were often seen as intermediaries between God and the people, which helped solidify their authoritative roles. Historically, clericalism has been associated with attempts to maintain the hierarchy within religious institutions, sometimes leading to tensions between clerics and laypersons. Over time, the term evolved to encompass broader criticisms of clerical authority and the potential for abuses of power within religious contexts.