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Glite Dictionary
predestinarianism

predestinarianism

9.9
A belief that God decides everything, especially who will be saved
  • noun
  • /ˌpriːdɛstəˈnɛəriənɪzəm/
  • Formal
translation icon : predestinación
  • Critics of predestinarianism argue that it undermines the role of free will in making moral choices.

Examples

  • Many people find comfort in the idea of predestinarianism, believing that their life's path is guided by divine will.

  • This brings to mind "predestinarianism."

    Blog text (2)

  • The concept of predestinarianism suggests that one's fate, including matters of salvation, is preordained.

Synonyms

predestination
vspredestinarianism
  • Formal
4 9.9

The belief that God already decides what happens in people's lives

also allows fate as an alternative to divine decision
predestiny
vspredestinarianism
1 9.9

Belief that all things that happen are decided in advance by fate or a higher power

stresses divine will specifically rather than vague higher power
predetermination
vspredestinarianism
  • Specialized
1 9.7

The belief that God decided all events before they happen

allows determination by divine will or by fate
preordination
vspredestinarianism
  • Specialized
1 9.9

The belief that God decides in advance what will happen

names the doctrine more broadly rather than the single act
foreordination
vspredestinarianism
  • Formal
9.9

The belief that God decides in advance what will happen and who will be saved

is broader, permitting divine will or fate without totality focus

Antonyms

free will
93 5.8

Ability to choose what you do without being controlled by outside forces

Surface Forms

predestinarianism singular
predestinarianisms plural

Morphology

predestinarianism = predestinarian (semi-transparent) = predestine + arian + ism

Formed by adding the suffix '-ism' to 'predestinarian'; the structure is clear but the term is a specialized theological label.

Etymology

Predestinarianism is built from pre- 'before', destin 'destiny', as in the word destiny, and -ism 'belief'. So it names the belief that events, especially who is saved, are decided 'before' they happen.