ecclesiasticism
Adherence to doctrine
Ecclesiasticism is excessive attachment to the forms, practices, and authority of organized religion—particularly institutional Christianity.
The term often carries a critical edge, suggesting that formal church structures, rituals, and hierarchies have become ends in themselves rather than means to spiritual life: His critique targeted the ecclesiasticism that had replaced genuine faith with empty ceremony.
Clergy appointment ceremony
- priesthoodOrdained religious office
- bishopricBishop's jurisdictional district
- deaconJunior clergy member
- rectorParish clergy chief
vicar · parson · chaplain · curate · prelate · minister · pastor · reverend
Formal worship structure
- vestmentsCeremonial religious attire
- incenseAnger greatly, or aromatic resin
- altarSacred ritual table
- communionProfound shared closeness
sacrament · matins · vespers · compline · genuflection · lectionary · paten · chalice
Place of Christian worship
- cathedralBishop's principal church
- dioceseBishop's territorial jurisdiction
- synodChurch governing assembly
- papacyPope's office and authority
parish · archdiocese · see · episcopate · curia · conclave · pontificate · vicarage
Unchallengeable official beliefs
- theologyStudy of the divine
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
- creedStatement of belief
catechism · apologetics · exegesis · eschatology · predestination · transubstantiation · atonement · justification
ordination
Clergy appointment ceremony
- priesthoodOrdained religious office
- bishopricBishop's jurisdictional district
- deaconJunior clergy member
rector · vicar · parson · chaplain · curate · prelate · minister · pastor · reverend · monsignor
liturgy
Formal worship structure
communion · sacrament · matins · vespers · compline · genuflection · lectionary · paten · chalice · censer
church
Place of Christian worship
- cathedralBishop's principal church
- dioceseBishop's territorial jurisdiction
- synodChurch governing assembly
papacy · parish · archdiocese · see · episcopate · curia · conclave · pontificate · vicarage · rectory
dogma
Unchallengeable official beliefs
- theologyStudy of the divine
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
creed · catechism · apologetics · exegesis · eschatology · predestination · transubstantiation · atonement · justification · sanctification
pilgrimage
Religious journey to shrine
monastery · convent · cloister · iconography · relics · saints · feast days · holy days · canon law · patriarchate
ecclesiasticismsecularism
Separation of faith, state
anticlericalism · secular humanism · worldliness · irreligion · disestablishmentarianism
ecclesiastical, ecclesiastic, ecclesiology, ecclesiastics, ecclesia, ecclesiastically