rigorism

American  

[rig-uh-riz-uhm] / ˈrɪg əˌrɪz əm /

noun

1. extreme strictness.

2. (in Roman Catholic moral philosophy) the theory that in doubtful cases of conscience no course may be followed that is contrary to Catholic law and doctrine.

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rigorism British  

/ ˈrɪɡəˌrɪzəm /

noun

1. strictness in judgment or conduct

2. the religious cult of extreme self-denial

3. RC theol the doctrine that in cases of doubt in moral matters the stricter course must always be followed

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Other Word Forms

• rigorist noun
• rigoristic adjective

Etymology

Origin of rigorism

From the French word rigorisme, dating back to 1695–1705. See rigor, -ism

Example Sentences

The quarrel over “crossed arms” during prayers, which, for a time, tore Côte d’Ivoire’s Muslim community apart, illustrates this kind of rigorism.

From Salon • Sep. 13, 2018

None the less, there has been a good deal of clandestine recruiting, and bitter recriminations against this turcophile attitude on the part of Italy—this "reactionary rigorism against every manifestation of sympathy for the Albanian cause."

From Old Calabria by Douglas, Norman

But the truly mystical must be a protest alike against a narrow juiceless intellectualism, against a narrow moralistic rigorism, and against a blind and spineless sentimentalism.

From Theology and the Social Consciousness A Study of the Relations of the Social Consciousness to Theology (2nd ed.) by King, Henry Churchill

Mr. Shund will not permit religious rigorism to put restraints upon his enjoyments.

From The Progressionists, and Angela. by Bolanden, Conrad von

If this is accepted, then of the men cited by Kaye to show the orthodoxy and the contemporaneity of rigorism only William Law has any relevance.

From A Letter to Dion by Viner, Jacob