Definition

1. Noun:
   • Religious zeal; the willingness to serve God: "Cultism" refers to excessive or fanatical devotion to a religious faith or deity, characterized by intense religious fervor.
   • Devotion to the doctrine or a cult or to the practices of a cult: It denotes the adherence to and promotion of the beliefs, rituals, and organizational structure of a specific cult, often implying uncritical acceptance.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The historian studied the rise of cultism in the late 20th century.
  • His cultism was evident in his unwavering defense of the group's most extreme practices.
  • The book warns against the dangers of cultism and blind obedience.

Advanced Usage

• As a sociological/psychological term: Used in academic contexts to describe the characteristics and dynamics of cult adherence.
  • The psychologist's paper analyzed the mechanisms of thought control in cultism.

Variants and Related Words

• Cult (n): A system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object, or a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister.
• Cultist (n): An adherent or member of a cult.
• Cultic (adj): Relating to or characteristic of a cult.

Synonyms

• Zealotry: Fanatical and uncompromising pursuit of religious, political, or other ideals.
• Fanaticism: The quality of being fanatical; extreme and often irrational enthusiasm or zeal.
• Sectarianism: Excessive attachment to a particular sect or party, especially in religion.

Related Phrases

• Blind devotion: Unquestioning and uncritical loyalty or enthusiasm.
• Unquestioning adherence: Acceptance of doctrines or practices without doubt or criticism.

Noun

1. religious zeal; the willingness to serve God
2. devotion to the doctrine or a cult or to the practices of a cult