quietism

[ kwahy-i-tiz-uhm ]

noun

1. a form of religious mysticism taught by Molinos, a Spanish priest, in the latter part of the 17th century, requiring extinction of the will, withdrawal from worldly interests, and passive meditation on God and divine things; Molinism.
2. some similar form of religious mysticism.
3. mental or bodily repose or passivity.

quietism

/ ˈkwaɪəˌtɪzəm /

noun

1. a form of religious mysticism originating in Spain in the late 17th century, requiring withdrawal of the spirit from all human effort and complete passivity to God's will
2. a state of passivity and calmness of mind towards external events

Derived Forms

• ˈquietist, nounadjective

Other Words From

• quiet·ist noun adjective
• quiet·istic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quietism¹

First recorded in 1680–90, quietism is from the Italian word quietismo originally, prayer in a state of quietude. See quiet, -ism

Example Sentences

Phelipeaux has given us, in his narrative of Quietism, the portrait of the friend of Madame Guyon.

From Project Gutenberg

He was fully convicted of Quietism and, on March 16, 1689, he was condemned to life-long prison.

From Project Gutenberg

This was, as we have seen, one of the dangerous tenets of Quietism, and over this there was a prolonged and subtle disputation.

From Project Gutenberg

The indifference, which was the point most objected to in Quietism, was greatly limited by Fnelon.

From Project Gutenberg

Molinos has been considered the leader and founder of the Quietism of the seventeenth century.

From Project Gutenberg