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clericalism

clericalism

9.9
Support for giving religious leaders more power in politics
  • noun
  • /ˈklɛrɪkəlɪzəm/
translation icon : clericalismo
  • Historical studies indicate that clericalism has often led to conflicts in political decision-making.
  • political clericalism

Examples

  • Third, political clericalism.

    Academic text (1991)
  • St. John Bosco, as a child, was deeply affected by the clericalism of his day.

    Blog text (16)
  • They wanted to arrest her and charge her with clericalism.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Against political clericalism, Christians have to affirm the lay character of the state.

    Academic text (1991)
  • The temptation of political clericalism underscores the importance of Christian ecumenism.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Also to a cultural reality: the apart world of a literate and privileged elite, "clericalism" in their day, "experts" or "intellectuals" in ours.

    Academic text (2002)
  • If the forced Christian political abstinence of the national churches is replaced by politically active clericalism, then cultural and political oppression, or at least marginalization, of the smaller churches will result.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Through the double testimony of life and of public moral discourse, Eastern European churches should keep the demons of cold-blooded economism, nationalistic totalitarianism, and political clericalism at a distance and direct the united efforts of capitalist and socialist brothers and sisters on the way toward what should be their common home in the household of the Father.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Many believe that the rise of clericalism has negatively impacted the relationship between the church and society.

  • Critics of clericalism argue that it undermines the principle of separation between church and state.

How Clerical

clericalism
9.9
neutrality
22 4.4
secularism
16 6.8

Surface Forms

clericalism singular
clericalisms plural

Morphology

clericalism = clerical (transparent) = cleric + al + ism

The adjective 'clerical' clearly provides the meaning 'relating to the clergy', and adding '-ism' forms an ideology or practice related to that adjective.

Etymology

Clericalism comes from cleric 'a church leader' plus the ending -ism 'a system or belief', and it is related to the everyday word clerk, which once meant a church worker. So clericalism means a system or belief that gives extra power or influence to the clergy 'church leaders' in politics or public life.