denominationalism means The division of one religion into separate groups, sects, schools of thought or denominations. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 83 out of 100.
Why this word is great
DENOMINATIONALISM — [Noun] The institutionalized division of a religion, particularly Christianity, into distinct and organizationally separate groups or denominations. From denominational (relating to a religious denomination) + -ism (denoting a system, principle, or ideological movement). Unlike sectarianism, which implies a prickly, hostile exclusivity, or ecumenism, which strives for a unifying embrace, denominationalism is the architecture of peaceful schism. It is the scent of beeswax candles in a high Anglican liturgy, the dry warmth of polished pews in a Reformed chapel, and the palpable, fervent humidity of a Baptist revival tent—three distinct atmospheres of faith, each with its own name, coexisting on a single town's map. This is the quiet testament to the human need for both community and particularity, the institutionalization of divergence as a settled, enduring fact.
noun
- The division of one religion into separate groups, sects, schools of thought or denominations.