pietists
/ˈpaɪətɪsts/
noun
- People who follow a religious movement that emphasizes personal faith, devotion, and a holy life over formal church doctrine or ritual.
- The pietists in the village gathered every evening for prayer and Bible study.
- Many early pietists rejected elaborate church ceremonies in favor of simple worship.
- Historians often describe the pietists as reformers who wanted to make religion more personal and heartfelt.
- People who are very devout or show strong religious feeling, sometimes in a way that others see as overly strict or self-righteous.
- She was raised by pietists who believed that every moment should be spent in prayer or good works.
- The community was divided between the easygoing majority and a small group of pietists who frowned on dancing.
- Some critics called them pietists because they seemed more concerned with appearing holy than with helping others.