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Erastianism

[ih-ras-chuh-niz-uh m, -tee-uh-niz-]
noun
  1. the doctrine, advocated by Thomas Erastus, of the supremacy of the state over the church in ecclesiastical matters.
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Origin of Erastianism

First recorded in 1675–85; Erastian + -ism
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for erastianism

Historical Examples

  • Nor did he fail to point out the suicidal nature of Erastianism.

    Political Thought in England from Locke to Bentham

    Harold J. Laski

  • Obviously, if this is 'Erastianism,' it is of an unusual kind.

  • When the question was put to him, "Is it our duty to refuse ordination to any one who holds the views of Erastianism?"

  • Erastianism is so called from Erastus, a German heretic of the sixteenth century.

  • Erastianism, the right of the State to override and overrule the decisions of the Church that happen to involve civil penalties.

    The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

    Edited by Rev. James Wood

British Dictionary definitions for erastianism

Erastianism

noun
  1. the theory that the state should have authority over the church in ecclesiastical matters
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Derived FormsErastian, noun, adjective

Word Origin

C17: named after Thomas Erastus (1524–83), Swiss theologian to whom such views were attributed
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012