Definition

Noun: 1. A religious mystic who follows quietism: A person who adheres to the doctrine of quietism, which emphasizes inner spiritual contemplation, passivity, and the annihilation of the self to achieve union with the divine. It involves withdrawing from active concerns and worldly affairs to focus on a passive, receptive state of prayer and meditation.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The 17th-century Spanish mystic Miguel de Molinos is considered a prominent quietist.
  • As a quietist, she believed that perfection lay in the complete surrender of the human will to God.
  • The monastery attracted many quietists who sought a life of silent contemplation.

Advanced Usage

• Theological/Historical Context: The term is often used in discussions of Christian mysticism, particularly regarding movements in the 17th century that were sometimes condemned by church authorities for their perceived passivity and potential to undermine ecclesiastical authority.
  • The writings of the French quietist Madame Guyon were influential but controversial.

Variants and Related Words

• Quietism (n): The doctrine or system of religious mysticism followed by a quietist.
  • His philosophy was one of absolute quietism.
• Quietistic (adj): Relating to or characteristic of quietism or quietists.
  • He maintained a quietistic approach to spiritual life.

Synonyms

• Contemplative: A person dedicated to religious contemplation.
• Mystic: A person who seeks by contemplation and self-surrender to obtain unity with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute.

Antonyms

• Activist: A person who campaigns to bring about political or social change.
• Ascetic (in the active, rigorous sense): A person who practices severe self-discipline and abstention, often through active physical rigors, as opposed to passive contemplation.

Related Phrases/Concepts

• "The way of inner silence": A phrase describing the quietist path.
  • The quietist devoted herself to the way of inner silence.
• "Passive contemplation": A core practice associated with quietism.
  • His days were filled with passive contemplation, as befitted a quietist.

Noun

1. a religious mystic who follows quietism