heathenism

heathenism

English

Etymology

From heathen +‎ -ism, coined in the 17th century in place of the then-obsolete heathendom. First attested in Francis Bacon's Of the advancement of learning (1605), II. xiv. §9: "The heresy of the Anthropomorphites [...] and the opinion of Epicurus, answerable to the same in heathenism, who supposed the gods to be in human shape" (OED).

Noun

heathenism (countable and uncountable, plural heathenisms)

1. paganism, heathendom
   • 2009, Adeline Masquelier, Women and Islamic Revival in a West African Town, Page 88

     […] they urge all followers of the Prophet to return to an authentic Islam, devoid of heathenism and innovations.

   Synonym: heathenship

Coordinate terms

• (religions) religion; Ahmadiyya,‎ Asatru,‎ Bahá'í Faith,‎ Buddhism,‎ Cao Dai,‎ Christianity,‎ deism,‎ Druidry,‎ Eckankar,‎ Flying Spaghetti Monsterism,‎ Heathenry,‎ Hinduism,‎ Islam,‎ Jainism,‎ Jediism,‎ Judaism,‎ Kimbanguism,‎ Odinism,‎ paganism,‎ Pastafarianism,‎ Raëlism,‎ Rastafarianism,‎ Shinto,‎ Sikhism,‎ Taoism,‎ Thelema,‎ Unitarian Universalism,‎ Wicca,‎ Yazidism,‎ Yoruba,‎ Zoroastrianism ^{(Category: en:Religion) [edit]}