Excessive emphasis on ceremony and formal rituals; the practice or belief that ceremonies and formal rites are of great importance.
From ceremonial (relating to ceremony, from Latin caerimonia) and -ism (suffix for practices or beliefs). This term developed to critique those who prioritize ritual over substance.
Ceremonialism became a criticism during the Reformation—Protestant reformers attacked Catholic 'ceremonialism,' arguing that elaborate rituals distracted from genuine faith, showing how language reflects religious conflict.
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