Antisacerdotalist

/æntiˌsæsərˈdoʊtəlɪst/ noun

Definition

A person who opposes priestly authority and advocates for religious reform without clerical mediation.

Etymology

From anti- (against) + sacerdotalist (an advocate of priestly authority). The -ist suffix denotes a person who holds such views. Emerged during the Reformation.

Kelly Says

Antisacerdotalists like Martin Luther fundamentally changed religion—they said 'ordinary people can have a direct relationship with God,' which threatened an entire power structure based on priests being special.

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