ecclesiology
/ɪˌkliːziˈɒlədʒi/
ecclesiology means the branch of theology concerned with the doctrines, role etc. of a church. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 83 out of 100.
ecclesiology is pronounced /ɪˌkliːziˈɒlədʒi/.
Why “ecclesiology” is a great word
The branch of theology concerned with the doctrines, nature, and role of the Christian church, or the science of church building and decoration. From the Greek *ekklēsia* ("assembly, congregation, church") and *-logia* ("study, discourse"), it was coined in 1837 as 'ecclesialogy' by a writer for the *British Critic*. Unlike "theology," which ponders the nature of the divine, or "architecture," which governs form and function in the secular world, ecclesiology inhabits the tension between the abstract congregation and its physical vessel. It is the blueprint for a nave intended to lift the gaze toward heaven, the doctrinal debate over who may kneel at the rail, and the precise symbolism of light filtering through stained glass onto stone—the meticulous study of how an invisible fellowship becomes a visible, tangible fact in the world.
Etymology
From ecclesio- + -logy. Coined by a writer of the British Critic in 1837, as ecclesialogy.
noun
- The branch of theology concerned with the doctrines, role etc. of a church.
- The science of building and decorating churches.