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Glite Dictionary
🙏 Optional practice ⚖️ Morally neutral thing
adiaphoron

adiaphoron

1 9.9
A religious practice that is not required or forbidden and is left to personal choice
  • noun
  • /ˌædiˈæfərɒn/
  • Specialized
: adiáforo
  • Many reformers argued that festival observance was an adiaphoron rather than a doctrinal requirement.

Examples

  • The council ruled that wearing specific colors of vestments was an adiaphoron and left it to local customs.

  • Some controversies in the church arise from misunderstandings about what qualifies as an adiaphoron.

  • An adiaphoron is a personal choice.

  • Using icons is an adiaphoron for many.

  • Many reformers argued that festival observance was an adiaphoron rather than a doctrinal requirement.

  • Some controversies in the church arise from misunderstandings about what qualifies as an adiaphoron.

  • The council ruled that wearing specific colors of vestments was an adiaphoron and left it to local customs.

Surface Forms

adiaphoron singular
adiaphora plural

Etymology

Adiaphoron comes from Greek parts a- meaning 'not' and diaphoros meaning 'making a difference'. So an adiaphoron in religion is something that 'does not make a difference', a practice that is optional, neither required nor forbidden.