Term
Moralism (Vol. 1)
Thinking or acting in light of morality, though the term often suggests an excessive or inappropriate application of moral standards to non-moral areas.
Filed underSystematic Theology
Definition
The term denotes thinking about life and actions or living and acting in light of morality. 'Moralism' and 'moralistic' suggest excessive, rigid, and inappropriate applications of morality, particularly to areas, such as art or politics, that should be governed by other standards.
Sources
- 1.Childress, James F., and John Macquarrie, ed. The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Ethics. (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1986). 399Original citation: Childress, James F., and John Macquarrie, eds. The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Ethics. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1986, 399.
Last revised August 14, 2026