classificatorianism
classificatorianism , n. ; (In religion) the subjective labeling, ranking, rating, grouping, pigeonholing, or name calling of those whose beliefs differ from one's own, into broad or narrow classes, subclasses, suborders, castes, tribes, species, stripes, breeds or even (horrors!) sects.Labeling the beliefs of others as "aberrational, heretical, heterodox, suborthodox, or unorthodox" in comparison to what is most popularly accepted as "mainstream Christianity", scriptures notwithstanding. The earliest examples are those of Christ's conflicts with the scribes, Pharisees and Priests, in which Christ was repeatedly condemned for being "unorthodox". Christ's use of OT scriptures as support for his teachings, was ignored by the religious leaders who emphasized "church traditions" over scripture.
Often used in false logic accusations as in "He believes in . . . ., therefore he has no truth."
Often used in religious debates (in the sense of calling "checkmate") in an attempt to score points or claim victory.
Often used to avoid having to address the details of a specific doctrinal argument as in, "He believes in . . . ., therefore we can ignore him and his other beliefs."
An easy method to avoid having to answer difficult or unsettling questions or challenges to one's beliefs. A verbal "sedative" of self-defense or self-assurance in the face of such questions. Sometimes used to mis-direct the audience away from the subject at hand by casting aspersions.
On the lowest level, an attempt to classify others as lower than one's self in order to feel superior in knowledge, mentality, vocabulary, or religion.
Commonly used "isms": (The use of which could be called "common-ism" :-)Agnosticism - Antinomianism - Arianism - Arminianism - Atheism - Calvinism - Chiliasm - Deism - Dispensation(alism) - Eutychianism - Infralapsarianism - Modalism - Monergism - Monophycitism - Monotheism - Nestorianism - Pantheism - Pedobaptism - Pelagianism - Polytheism - Postmillennialism - Premillennialism - Sacerdotalism - Scholasticism - Subjectivism - Supralapsarianism - Synergism - Theism - Unitarianism - Universalism.
(The "mainstream" definitions of these are found at http://www.carm.org/dictionary.htm)
Note that the definition can vary widely, depending upon the source of the definition.
More "isms":Pantheism - Armstrongism - Pluralism - Proselytism - Antidogmatism - Fundamentialism -British Israelism - Cessationism - Eclectism - Syncretism - Humanism - Hylozoism - Animism - Trinitarianism - Monotheism - Christian Reconstructionism - Postmodernism - Unionism .
("Mainstream" definitions of these can be found at http://www.gospelcom.net/apologeticsindex/a00.html )
In-Credible Definitions?:
"Remember the Golden Rule: He who has the gold, makes the rules." (From Wizard of Id comics). The theological parallel is, "He who has sculpted a doctrinal bull, has his own definition of idolatry."
For your convenience we have listed the "mainstream" definitions for the terms above, along with some illuminating commentary at "common-isms". (click here)
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