theocentrism
|the-o-cen-tri-sm|
🇺🇸
/ˌθiːoʊˈsɛntrɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/ˌθiːəʊˈsɛntrɪzəm/
God-centered
Etymology
'theocentrism' originates from Modern English, formed from Greek elements: 'theo-' from Greek 'theos' meaning 'god' and the suffix '-centrism' (from Greek 'kentron') meaning 'center'.
'theocentrism' developed from the adjective 'theocentric' (formed from 'theo-' + 'centric') and emerged in theological and philosophical discourse in the 19th–20th centuries as the noun form for a God-centered outlook.
Initially used to describe a God-centered perspective in theological writing, it has retained that core meaning and is now applied more broadly to any framework that places the divine at the center of explanation or value.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a theological or philosophical view that places God (the divine) at the center of understanding reality, value, and purpose; God-centeredness in doctrine, ethics, or worldview.
Theocentrism argues that moral and metaphysical questions should be answered with God as the primary reference point.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
(in theology and religious studies) A stance or interpretive method that interprets human experience, history, or creation primarily in relation to God.
Scholars contrasted theocentrism with anthropocentrism when discussing environmental ethics.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/13 18:32