fideism
C2Academic / Philosophical
Definition
Meaning
A doctrine or theory that truth, especially religious truth, depends on faith or revelation rather than reason or intellectual understanding.
In philosophy of religion, a stance that belief in God should be founded on faith alone, independent of, and sometimes antagonistic toward, reason and evidence.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Used almost exclusively in philosophical and theological discourse. The term can carry either a neutral, descriptive sense (denoting a position) or a pejorative sense (implying irrationalism).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is identical. Usage and conceptual discussion are equally present in both British and American academic contexts.
Connotations
No significant regional variation in connotation. In both dialects, its use is confined to specialised discourse.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Slightly more frequent in American publications due to the larger volume of theological and philosophical discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
fideism holds that...adhere to fideismthe fideism of [author]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The word is a technical term and does not feature in idioms.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Never used.
Academic
Core usage. Found in philosophy, theology, and religious studies journals and texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Primary usage domain. A precise term in epistemology and philosophy of religion.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- None. No verb form exists.
American English
- None. No verb form exists.
adverb
British English
- None. The adverb 'fideistically' is theoretically possible but vanishingly rare.
American English
- None. The adverb 'fideistically' is theoretically possible but vanishingly rare.
adjective
British English
- He took a distinctly fideistic position, arguing that proofs for God were not only unnecessary but misguided.
American English
- Her fideistic approach to scripture was at odds with the scholarly, historical-critical method.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This word is not taught at A2 level.
- This word is not typically taught at B1 level.
- Some religious thinkers argue from a position of fideism, believing that faith needs no justification from science.
- The philosopher's critique targeted what he saw as the inherent irrationalism of radical fideism, which severs faith from any rational accountability.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"Fideism" sounds like "FIDElity to faith ISM" – an 'ism' prioritizing fidelity to faith over reason.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAITH IS A FOUNDATION (for knowledge/belief); REASON IS AN OPTIONAL TOOL (or even an obstacle).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'фанатизм' (fanaticism). Fideism is a philosophical position, not an emotional extreme.
- The closest direct translation is 'фидеизм', but it is a very low-frequency loanword in Russian.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing as 'fee-dee-ism' (correct first syllable rhymes with 'guide' or 'hid').
- Using it as a synonym for general 'religious belief' rather than a specific epistemological stance prioritizing faith over reason.
- Confusing it with 'fatalism'.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'fideism' primarily used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Fideism is a specific philosophical stance *about* religious belief, claiming faith is independent of or superior to reason. Many religious people do not hold fideistic views.
The 19th-century Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard is often cited as a classic example of a fideist for his emphasis on the 'leap of faith'.
Rationalism or evidentialism in religious epistemology. These positions hold that religious beliefs must be justified by reason and evidence.
It would be highly unusual and likely confusing. It is a specialised academic term.