devil-worship
/'devl,wə:ʃip/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. The worship of devils: The practice of showing religious reverence and devotion to devils or demonic entities. This involves acts, rituals, or rites performed to honor or appease such beings. 2. Satanism: Often used synonymously to refer to the worship of Satan or other figures considered evil in mainstream religions.
Examples
- The medieval text described alleged cases of devil-worship in the remote village.
- The cult was accused of practicing devil-worship, though its members claimed they were simply exploring alternative spiritualities.
- Historically, charges of devil-worship were often used to persecute minority groups.
Advanced Usage
- The term is frequently used in a pejorative or accusatory context by those outside the practice to describe rituals they consider evil or blasphemous.
- In academic religious studies, the term is often replaced with more specific, neutral terminology like "Satanism" or "demonolatry" to avoid bias.
Variants and Related Words
- Devil-worshipper (noun): A person who engages in devil-worship.
- The villagers feared the alleged devil-worshippers in the forest.
- Demonolatry (noun): The formal worship of demons, often used as a more technical synonym.
- Satanism (noun): The worship of Satan, which is a specific form of devil-worship.
Synonyms
- Satanism
- Demonolatry
- Diabolism
Related Phrases
- To be accused of devil-worship: To be charged with practicing the worship of devils.
- The heretical sect was accused of devil-worship by the established church.
Noun
- the acts or rites of worshiping devils