Belief Quote by Ambrose Bierce
“SACERDOTALIST, n. One who holds the belief that a clergyman is a priest. Denial of this momentous doctrine is the hardest challenge that is now flung into the teeth of the Episcopalian church by the Neo-Dictionarians.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Devil's Dictionary, 1906
A satirical definition mocking the idea that clergy are inherently priestly, highlighting doctrinal disputes.
In simple terms: Mock definition of clergy role.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about religious titles.
Themes
satire
religion
language
Mood
ironic
critical
Type
satirical
definitional
When to use this quote
- theological debates
- literary analysis
- church politics
Key Concepts
semantic play
institutional critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this definition reveal about religious authority?
- How does satire affect belief?
A Different Perspective
The humor may obscure serious theological concerns.
![“Then, what is sacrelige [sic]? If it is nothing more than a rebellion against dogma, it is eventually as meaningless as the dogma it defies, and they are both become hounds ranting in the high grass, never see the boar in the thicket. Only a religious person can perpetrate sacrelige: and if its…” quote by William Gaddis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b41/william-gaddis-7794_religious-person_then-what-is-sacrelige-sic-if-it-is-noth_1627540.jpg)
