church

church
A church is a large, bureaucratic, and hierarchical religious organization, which typically recruits from the upper and middle classes. It has a priesthood, sacraments, and formal liturgy. Lay participation, especially in worship, is not necessarily encouraged. These definitional characteristics confine the use of the concept largely to a Christian context. The church is accommodated to existing social arrangements and regards the state as a necessary aspect of political control over society. Individuals are born into the church and become permanent members through infant baptism. The church as an ideal-type is contrasted with the sect . See also cult ; denomination.

Dictionary of sociology. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Church — (ch[^u]rch), n. [OE. chirche, chireche, cherche, Scot. kirk, from AS. circe, cyrice; akin to D. kerk, Icel. kirkja, Sw. kyrka, Dan. kirke, G. kirche, OHG. chirihha; all fr. Gr. kyriako n the Lord s house, fr. kyriako s concerning a master or lord …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Church — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Albert T. Church, Vize Admiral der US Navy Alonzo Church (1903–1995), US amerikanischer Mathematiker Arthur Herbert Church (1834–1915), britischer Autor, Maler und Chemiker Benjamin Church, General der… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Church — may refer to: Contents 1 Religion 2 People 3 Places 4 Popular music 5 Other uses …   Wikipedia

  • church — [ tʃɜrtʃ ] noun *** count or uncount a building that Christians go to in order to worship. Traditional churches usually contain an altar and long wooden seats facing the altar called pews. The place where the priest or MINISTER stands to talk to… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Church — (iglesia en inglés) puede hacer referencia a: Contenido 1 Apellido 1.1 Personajes 2 Toponimia 3 Música 4 …   Wikipedia Español

  • CHURCH (A.) — CHURCH ALONZO (1903 ) Mathématicien et logicien, philosophe et historien de la logique, Alonzo Church est né à Washington. Professeur de mathématiques à l’université de Princeton, directeur du Journal of Symbolic Logic , il est selon Kneale «le… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • church — W1S1 [tʃə:tʃ US tʃə:rtʃ] n [: Old English; Origin: cirice, from Late Greek kyriakon, from Greek kyriakos of the lord , from kyrios lord, master ] 1.) a building where Christians go to worship →↑cathedral ▪ a short church service ▪ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • church|y — «CHUR chee», adjective, church|i|er, church|i|est. 1. having to do with or suggestive of a church or the church: »The British House of Lords is as churchy an institution as St. Peter s in Rome (Time) …   Useful english dictionary

  • CHURCH (F. E.) — CHURCH FREDERIC EDWIN (1826 1900) Peintre américain dont l’œuvre constitue l’expression la plus originale et la plus complète du romantisme dans la peinture américaine. Church a le paysage pour domaine. Élève de Thomas Cole entre 1844 et 1846, il …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • church|ly — «CHURCH lee», adjective. 1. of or having to do with a church; ecclesiastical. 2. suitable for a church. –church´li|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • church — O.E. cirice church, public place of worship, Christians collectively, from W.Gmc. *kirika (Cf. O.S. kirika, O.N. kirkja, O.Fris. zerke, M.Du. kerke, O.H.G. kirihha, Ger. Kirche), from Gk. kyriake (oikia), kyriakon doma Lord s (house), from kyrios …   Etymology dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”