Opposed to or against bishops or the authority structure of bishops in religious governance.
From anti- (against) + episcopal (from Latin episcopus, 'bishop'). The term arose during religious reformation movements when Protestants and other groups challenged the hierarchical church structure with bishops as leaders.
Protestant reformers wielded this word like a theological crowbar—they argued that churches didn't need bishops at all, which sparked centuries of religious conflict across Europe and America.
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