Why do Christianity and Islam not end with “-ism”?
Apart from Christianity and Islam all more wide-spread religions seem to end in "-ism", such as Hinduism, Confucianism or Judaism.
According to Wikipedia
It means "taking side with" or "imitation of", and is often used to describe philosophies, theories, religions, social movements, artistic movements and behaviors.
which makes absolute sense, but why are Christianity and Islam exceptions?
etymology
asked Dec 21 at 8:12
A Lambent Eye
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Apart from Christianity and Islam all more wide-spread religions seem to end in "-ism", such as Hinduism, Confucianism or Judaism.
According to Wikipedia
It means "taking side with" or "imitation of", and is often used to describe philosophies, theories, religions, social movements, artistic movements and behaviors.
which makes absolute sense, but why are Christianity and Islam exceptions?
etymology
asked Dec 21 at 8:12
A Lambent Eye
75517
New contributor
A Lambent Eye is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
But the suffix "...ity" has a similar meaning to "...ism" - in conformity with e.g. jollity, stupidity, Latinity, civility etc.
– WS2
Dec 21 at 8:50
According to Wiktionary -ity is just to make it a noun though: "Used to form a noun from an adjective; especially, to form the noun referring to the state, property, or quality of conforming to the adjective's description.", "Used to form other nouns, especially abstract nouns."
– A Lambent Eye
Dec 21 at 8:53
But doesn't "...ism" do essentially the same thing? Incidentally I have seen and heard "Islamism" used.
– WS2
Dec 21 at 8:57
1
'Islam' is apparently Arabic for 'submission [to God]' and is the term Muslims prefer. English speakers used to call them 'Mohammedans', from which you could derive 'Mohammedanism'.
– Kate Bunting
Dec 21 at 8:58
@WS2 While some people regard it as the same thing, others see it in a more radical fashion, see the Wikipedia article for more detail.
– A Lambent Eye
Dec 21 at 9:01
|
show 1 more comment
Apart from Christianity and Islam all more wide-spread religions seem to end in "-ism", such as Hinduism, Confucianism or Judaism.
According to Wikipedia
It means "taking side with" or "imitation of", and is often used to describe philosophies, theories, religions, social movements, artistic movements and behaviors.
which makes absolute sense, but why are Christianity and Islam exceptions?
etymology
asked Dec 21 at 8:12
A Lambent Eye
75517
New contributor
A Lambent Eye is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Apart from Christianity and Islam all more wide-spread religions seem to end in "-ism", such as Hinduism, Confucianism or Judaism.
According to Wikipedia
It means "taking side with" or "imitation of", and is often used to describe philosophies, theories, religions, social movements, artistic movements and behaviors.
which makes absolute sense, but why are Christianity and Islam exceptions?
etymology
etymology
asked Dec 21 at 8:12
A Lambent Eye
75517
New contributor
A Lambent Eye is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Dec 21 at 8:12
A Lambent Eye
75517
New contributor
A Lambent Eye is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Dec 21 at 8:12
A Lambent Eye
75517
New contributor
A Lambent Eye is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Dec 21 at 8:12
A Lambent Eye
75517
asked Dec 21 at 8:12
A Lambent Eye
75517
75517
New contributor
A Lambent Eye is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
A Lambent Eye is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
A Lambent Eye is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
But the suffix "...ity" has a similar meaning to "...ism" - in conformity with e.g. jollity, stupidity, Latinity, civility etc.
– WS2
Dec 21 at 8:50
According to Wiktionary -ity is just to make it a noun though: "Used to form a noun from an adjective; especially, to form the noun referring to the state, property, or quality of conforming to the adjective's description.", "Used to form other nouns, especially abstract nouns."
– A Lambent Eye
Dec 21 at 8:53
But doesn't "...ism" do essentially the same thing? Incidentally I have seen and heard "Islamism" used.
– WS2
Dec 21 at 8:57
1
'Islam' is apparently Arabic for 'submission [to God]' and is the term Muslims prefer. English speakers used to call them 'Mohammedans', from which you could derive 'Mohammedanism'.
– Kate Bunting
Dec 21 at 8:58
@WS2 While some people regard it as the same thing, others see it in a more radical fashion, see the Wikipedia article for more detail.
– A Lambent Eye
Dec 21 at 9:01
|
show 1 more comment
1
But the suffix "...ity" has a similar meaning to "...ism" - in conformity with e.g. jollity, stupidity, Latinity, civility etc.
– WS2
Dec 21 at 8:50
According to Wiktionary -ity is just to make it a noun though: "Used to form a noun from an adjective; especially, to form the noun referring to the state, property, or quality of conforming to the adjective's description.", "Used to form other nouns, especially abstract nouns."
– A Lambent Eye
Dec 21 at 8:53
But doesn't "...ism" do essentially the same thing? Incidentally I have seen and heard "Islamism" used.
– WS2
Dec 21 at 8:57
1
'Islam' is apparently Arabic for 'submission [to God]' and is the term Muslims prefer. English speakers used to call them 'Mohammedans', from which you could derive 'Mohammedanism'.
– Kate Bunting
Dec 21 at 8:58
@WS2 While some people regard it as the same thing, others see it in a more radical fashion, see the Wikipedia article for more detail.
– A Lambent Eye
Dec 21 at 9:01
1
1
But the suffix "...ity" has a similar meaning to "...ism" - in conformity with e.g. jollity, stupidity, Latinity, civility etc.
– WS2
Dec 21 at 8:50
But the suffix "...ity" has a similar meaning to "...ism" - in conformity with e.g. jollity, stupidity, Latinity, civility etc.
– WS2
Dec 21 at 8:50
According to Wiktionary -ity is just to make it a noun though: "Used to form a noun from an adjective; especially, to form the noun referring to the state, property, or quality of conforming to the adjective's description.", "Used to form other nouns, especially abstract nouns."
– A Lambent Eye
Dec 21 at 8:53
According to Wiktionary -ity is just to make it a noun though: "Used to form a noun from an adjective; especially, to form the noun referring to the state, property, or quality of conforming to the adjective's description.", "Used to form other nouns, especially abstract nouns."
– A Lambent Eye
Dec 21 at 8:53
But doesn't "...ism" do essentially the same thing? Incidentally I have seen and heard "Islamism" used.
– WS2
Dec 21 at 8:57
But doesn't "...ism" do essentially the same thing? Incidentally I have seen and heard "Islamism" used.
– WS2
Dec 21 at 8:57
1
1
'Islam' is apparently Arabic for 'submission [to God]' and is the term Muslims prefer. English speakers used to call them 'Mohammedans', from which you could derive 'Mohammedanism'.
– Kate Bunting
Dec 21 at 8:58
'Islam' is apparently Arabic for 'submission [to God]' and is the term Muslims prefer. English speakers used to call them 'Mohammedans', from which you could derive 'Mohammedanism'.
– Kate Bunting
Dec 21 at 8:58
@WS2 While some people regard it as the same thing, others see it in a more radical fashion, see the Wikipedia article for more detail.
– A Lambent Eye
Dec 21 at 9:01
@WS2 While some people regard it as the same thing, others see it in a more radical fashion, see the Wikipedia article for more detail.
– A Lambent Eye
Dec 21 at 9:01
|
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
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“Islam” is really just the one term for the religion that is most popular. Throughout the ages English has had many other terms for it, including some ending in -ism (definitions from the OED):
- Allahism: “The Islamic conception of the attributes of God; (also) the Islamic religion, Islam.”
- Islamicism: “Islam; (also) the quality of being Islamic in faith, culture, or character.”
- Islamism
- Mohammedanism (and varying spellings thereof)
- Muslimism (and varying spellings thereof)
I’m not sure the reason why all of these went out of fashion. The forms that include Muhammad’s name are considered offensive because they put a mere human above god. “Islamism” and “Islamicism” are now also terms for fundamentalist or militaristic Islam, so it should be obvious why those two terms aren’t more used.
As for Christianity, the religion was originally called “Christendom”. The word “Christianism” was first used in 1576 and is still used as a nonce word when you need an -ism form according to the OED. There’s also “Christism” but that’s much rarer.
Surprisingly the term Judaism was only first attested in a1425 according to the OED. A slightly earlier term for it is “Jewry”.
answered Dec 21 at 15:48
Laurel
30.2k657108
add a comment |
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“Islam” is really just the one term for the religion that is most popular. Throughout the ages English has had many other terms for it, including some ending in -ism (definitions from the OED):
- Allahism: “The Islamic conception of the attributes of God; (also) the Islamic religion, Islam.”
- Islamicism: “Islam; (also) the quality of being Islamic in faith, culture, or character.”
- Islamism
- Mohammedanism (and varying spellings thereof)
- Muslimism (and varying spellings thereof)
I’m not sure the reason why all of these went out of fashion. The forms that include Muhammad’s name are considered offensive because they put a mere human above god. “Islamism” and “Islamicism” are now also terms for fundamentalist or militaristic Islam, so it should be obvious why those two terms aren’t more used.
As for Christianity, the religion was originally called “Christendom”. The word “Christianism” was first used in 1576 and is still used as a nonce word when you need an -ism form according to the OED. There’s also “Christism” but that’s much rarer.
Surprisingly the term Judaism was only first attested in a1425 according to the OED. A slightly earlier term for it is “Jewry”.
answered Dec 21 at 15:48
Laurel
30.2k657108
add a comment |
“Islam” is really just the one term for the religion that is most popular. Throughout the ages English has had many other terms for it, including some ending in -ism (definitions from the OED):
- Allahism: “The Islamic conception of the attributes of God; (also) the Islamic religion, Islam.”
- Islamicism: “Islam; (also) the quality of being Islamic in faith, culture, or character.”
- Islamism
- Mohammedanism (and varying spellings thereof)
- Muslimism (and varying spellings thereof)
I’m not sure the reason why all of these went out of fashion. The forms that include Muhammad’s name are considered offensive because they put a mere human above god. “Islamism” and “Islamicism” are now also terms for fundamentalist or militaristic Islam, so it should be obvious why those two terms aren’t more used.
As for Christianity, the religion was originally called “Christendom”. The word “Christianism” was first used in 1576 and is still used as a nonce word when you need an -ism form according to the OED. There’s also “Christism” but that’s much rarer.
Surprisingly the term Judaism was only first attested in a1425 according to the OED. A slightly earlier term for it is “Jewry”.
answered Dec 21 at 15:48
Laurel
30.2k657108
add a comment |
“Islam” is really just the one term for the religion that is most popular. Throughout the ages English has had many other terms for it, including some ending in -ism (definitions from the OED):
- Allahism: “The Islamic conception of the attributes of God; (also) the Islamic religion, Islam.”
- Islamicism: “Islam; (also) the quality of being Islamic in faith, culture, or character.”
- Islamism
- Mohammedanism (and varying spellings thereof)
- Muslimism (and varying spellings thereof)
I’m not sure the reason why all of these went out of fashion. The forms that include Muhammad’s name are considered offensive because they put a mere human above god. “Islamism” and “Islamicism” are now also terms for fundamentalist or militaristic Islam, so it should be obvious why those two terms aren’t more used.
As for Christianity, the religion was originally called “Christendom”. The word “Christianism” was first used in 1576 and is still used as a nonce word when you need an -ism form according to the OED. There’s also “Christism” but that’s much rarer.
Surprisingly the term Judaism was only first attested in a1425 according to the OED. A slightly earlier term for it is “Jewry”.
answered Dec 21 at 15:48
Laurel
30.2k657108
“Islam” is really just the one term for the religion that is most popular. Throughout the ages English has had many other terms for it, including some ending in -ism (definitions from the OED):
- Allahism: “The Islamic conception of the attributes of God; (also) the Islamic religion, Islam.”
- Islamicism: “Islam; (also) the quality of being Islamic in faith, culture, or character.”
- Islamism
- Mohammedanism (and varying spellings thereof)
- Muslimism (and varying spellings thereof)
I’m not sure the reason why all of these went out of fashion. The forms that include Muhammad’s name are considered offensive because they put a mere human above god. “Islamism” and “Islamicism” are now also terms for fundamentalist or militaristic Islam, so it should be obvious why those two terms aren’t more used.
As for Christianity, the religion was originally called “Christendom”. The word “Christianism” was first used in 1576 and is still used as a nonce word when you need an -ism form according to the OED. There’s also “Christism” but that’s much rarer.
Surprisingly the term Judaism was only first attested in a1425 according to the OED. A slightly earlier term for it is “Jewry”.
answered Dec 21 at 15:48
Laurel
30.2k657108
answered Dec 21 at 15:48
Laurel
30.2k657108
answered Dec 21 at 15:48
Laurel
30.2k657108
answered Dec 21 at 15:48
Laurel
30.2k657108
30.2k657108
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
But the suffix "...ity" has a similar meaning to "...ism" - in conformity with e.g. jollity, stupidity, Latinity, civility etc.
– WS2
Dec 21 at 8:50
According to Wiktionary -ity is just to make it a noun though: "Used to form a noun from an adjective; especially, to form the noun referring to the state, property, or quality of conforming to the adjective's description.", "Used to form other nouns, especially abstract nouns."
– A Lambent Eye
Dec 21 at 8:53
But doesn't "...ism" do essentially the same thing? Incidentally I have seen and heard "Islamism" used.
– WS2
Dec 21 at 8:57
1
'Islam' is apparently Arabic for 'submission [to God]' and is the term Muslims prefer. English speakers used to call them 'Mohammedans', from which you could derive 'Mohammedanism'.
– Kate Bunting
Dec 21 at 8:58
@WS2 While some people regard it as the same thing, others see it in a more radical fashion, see the Wikipedia article for more detail.
– A Lambent Eye
Dec 21 at 9:01