Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🙏 Too much ritual ⛪ Rituals give grace
sacramentalism

sacramentalism

9.9
Giving too much importance to religious rituals like baptism and communion instead of personal faith
  • noun
  • /ˌsækrəˈmɛntəlɪzəm/
translation icon : sacramentalismo
  • Some theologians argue that sacramentalism can distract believers from the true meaning of faith.

Examples

  • The church was criticized for its sacramentalism and lack of focus on personal spirituality.

  • Debates about sacramentalism have shaped many religious reforms throughout history.

  • Many argue that sacramentalism detracts from true spirituality.

  • The church's focus on sacramentalism has been criticized by some.

  • Some theologians argue that sacramentalism can distract believers from the true meaning of faith.

  • The church was criticized for its sacramentalism and lack of focus on personal spirituality.

  • Many argue that sacramentalism detracts from true spirituality.

Synonyms

churchianity
vssacramentalism
1 9.9

A focus on church rules and ceremonies instead of true faith

targets ritual priority specifically over inner faith, not institutional loyalty
ritualism
vssacramentalism
8.2

Giving too much importance to ceremonies and formal actions in worship

stresses symbolic rites rather than personal spiritual meaning
orthopraxis
vssacramentalism
  • Formal
9.9

Belief that correct actions and rituals matter more than correct beliefs, often in religion

prefers ritual acts over inner faith and spiritual understanding
ceremonialism
vssacramentalism
  • Formal
8.6

Giving great importance to formal public events and rituals

is about giving rites priority over inner faith and meaning
ecclesiasticism
vssacramentalism
  • Formal
9.9

Giving too much importance to church rituals and leaders

centers on ceremonial importance over inner spiritual meaning rather than structure

Antonyms

faith
729 2.3

A religion or religious group someone belongs to, for example Christianity

spirituality
71 6.3

A concern with the inner life and connection beyond physical things

How Ritualistic

sacramentalism
9.9
ritualism
1 8.6
formalism
1 9.0

Surface Forms

sacramentalism singular
sacramentalisms plural

Morphology

sacramentalism = sacramental (semi-transparent) = sacrament + al + ism

Formally built from 'sacramental' + '-ism', but the pejorative sense 'placing excessive importance on rituals' is an evaluative extension rather than a literal doctrinal label.

Etymology

Sacramentalism comes from sacrament, which comes from Latin sacer meaning 'holy' or 'sacred', together with -ism meaning 'belief'. Because a sacrament is a 'holy ritual', sacramentalism can also mean putting too much importance on rituals instead of personal faith.