chiliasm: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowTechnical/Academic/Religious
Quick answer
What does “chiliasm” mean?
The religious doctrine or belief in a future thousand-year period of peace and righteousness, usually associated with Christ's Second Coming.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The religious doctrine or belief in a future thousand-year period of peace and righteousness, usually associated with Christ's Second Coming.
Any system of thought that anticipates a future utopian or idealistic golden age, often through radical change or divine intervention.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, primarily academic/theological; may carry a slightly archaic or esoteric tone.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both British and American English, with slightly higher occurrence in theological or historical academic writing.
Grammar
How to Use “chiliasm” in a Sentence
chiliasm + [prepositional phrase: of the early Church][adjective] + chiliasmVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chiliasm” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The early theologians did not chiliasm.
American English
- The group chiliasmed about a coming utopia.
adjective
British English
- The chiliastic writings were controversial.
- His views had a chiliastic fervour.
American English
- The preacher held chiliastic beliefs.
- The movement's literature was intensely chiliastic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in theology, religious studies, and history departments when discussing eschatology or early Christian movements.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
A precise term in systematic theology and historical theology to denote a specific eschatological belief.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chiliasm”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chiliasm”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chiliasm”
- Misspelling as 'chilliasm' or 'chilyasm'.
- Using it as a general synonym for 'optimism about the future'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In precise theological usage, 'chiliasm' (from Greek 'chilioi') specifically denotes the belief in a literal, future thousand-year earthly reign of Christ, often associated with early Christian thought. 'Millenarianism' (from Latin 'mille') is a broader, more modern term encompassing various beliefs in a coming utopian age, not necessarily Christian or literal.
It is primarily used in Theology, Religious Studies, Church History, and occasionally in History or Sociology when studying religious movements with eschatological beliefs.
In its strict, original form, it is not a mainstream doctrine in most major Christian denominations today. However, elements of it persist in various forms within some evangelical, fundamentalist, and apocalyptic Christian movements.
Very rarely. It is almost exclusively a theological/historical term. Using it to describe secular political utopianism would be a highly technical or metaphorical extension.
The religious doctrine or belief in a future thousand-year period of peace and righteousness, usually associated with Christ's Second Coming.
Chiliasm is usually technical/academic/religious in register.
Chiliasm: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɪlɪæzəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɪliˌæzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'chili' (like a thousand, from Greek 'chilioi') + 'ism' (a belief system) = a belief in a thousand-year golden age.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE FUTURE IS A GOLDEN AGE (A specific, temporally bounded period of perfection).
Practice
Quiz
Chiliasm is most closely associated with which concept?