Glaubenseifer

Glaubenseifer (from German Glauben, “faith,” and Eifer, “zeal”) is a German noun used to denote intense zeal or fervor in defense or practice of one's religious beliefs. The term is often translated as religious zeal or zealotry, though it can carry a neutral sense of earnest commitment as well as a pejorative one depending on context.

In scholarly and historical discourse, Glaubenseifer describes how strong conviction about religious truths can motivate actions such as proselytizing, strict moral conduct, or social mobilization. It can contribute to cohesion within a religious community, but may also fuel intolerance toward dissenting beliefs or external groups. The term is frequently used in analyses of church history, reform movements, and debates about the boundaries between faith and coercion.

Related concepts include zealotry, religious fanaticism, devoutness, pietism, and proselytism. For translation, English usage tends to favor “religious zeal” or “zeal for the faith.”