jansenism
/ˈdʒænsəˌnɪzəm/
noun
- A religious movement within Christianity, especially in 17th- and 18th-century France, that emphasized strict moral rules, human sinfulness, and the idea that only a few people are chosen by God for salvation.
- Many nuns and priests in the 1600s were influenced by the strict beliefs of Jansenism.
- The French king opposed Jansenism because he thought it weakened the authority of the church.
- Jansenism taught that people could not earn salvation through good deeds alone.
- A strict or severe attitude toward morality, often involving harsh judgment of oneself or others.
- Her jansenism made her feel guilty about enjoying simple pleasures like dancing.
- Some people today use the word jansenism to describe an overly strict conscience.
- The teacher's jansenism led him to criticize students for any small mistake.