hierolatry
Definition
Noun: - The worship of saints: The religious veneration, adoration, or excessive devotion directed towards saints.
Usage
- Hierolatry is a formal and somewhat critical term used in theological and historical discussions to describe the practice of saint worship, often implying it is a form of idolatry or a deviation from the worship of God alone.
- It is typically used in academic or descriptive contexts rather than in everyday conversation.
Examples
- The reformer argued against the hierolatry he observed in popular medieval piety, claiming it distracted from the worship of God.
- Scholars debate whether the veneration of icons in some traditions constitutes hierolatry or a legitimate form of religious honor.
- A historical study examined the rise of hierolatry in the early Christian church.
Advanced Usage
- The term can be used in a comparative religious studies context to analyze similar practices across different faiths that involve veneration of holy persons.
- In polemical writing, hierolatry is often employed to criticize practices seen as superstitious or heretical.
Variants and Related Words
- Hagiolatry (noun): A direct synonym, also meaning the worship or excessive veneration of saints.
- Saint-worship (noun): A more common, less formal phrase with the same meaning.
Synonyms
- Hagiolatry
- Saint-worship
- Veneration of saints (though "veneration" alone is often considered a more neutral or approved term within many traditions)
Antonyms
- Iconoclasm (the rejection or destruction of religious images and veneration)
- Orthodox worship (as defined by traditions that strictly reject saint worship)
Noun
-
the worship of saints
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
