Denominationalizing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The process of removing or reducing affiliation or identity with a specific religious denomination; the act of diminishing denominational distinctions ; the transformation toward a more nonsectarian or interdenominational state
2. The action of eliminating strong ties to particular religious groups ; the effort to promote unity by lessening denominational boundaries ; converting to a broader or more inclusive spiritual classification
3. The procedure of detaching from defined denominational labels; the attempt to blur or dissolve sectarian divisions ; shifting focus away from specific religious affiliations toward general spiritual identity

Etymology: "Denominationalizing" is the present participle of "denominationalize," which is formed from "denominational" plus the suffix "-ize," meaning to make or to treat in a certain way. Its literal sense is something like "to make denominational," that is, to turn a religion or institution into one organised as a separate denomination. The word's meaning here is "leaving religious groups," a sense that runs against the grain of its parts. A denomination is a named branch within a faith, so "denominationalizing" points toward splitting into branches, yet the usage described here is the reverse: people withdrawing from organised religious bodies altogether. The suffix does the work of turning a noun about membership into an action, and the participle form turns that action into a continuing process.

Synonyms: sectarianizing, categorizing, classifying, dividing, grouping

Antonyms: unifying, integrating, combining, merging, amalgamating