devotionalism

Devotionalism is a mode of religious life that foregrounds personal, affective devotion to the divine, saints, or revered figures. It emphasizes interior piety, spiritual experience, and daily devotional practices rather than formal doctrinal dispute, liturgical regulation, or institutional authority. Though the term is often used in the study of Western Christianity, devotionalism also describes analogous patterns in other religious traditions in which intimate, ongoing devotion shapes belief and conduct.

Common devotional practices include daily prayers, private scriptural reading, meditation, devotional poetry or hymns, and the use of aids such as prayer books, rosaries, icons, or sacred music. Devotion may center on God, Christ, the Virgin Mary or saints, gurus, or other divine embodiments, and can be expressed individually or in small groups. In Hinduism, the bhakti movement epitomized intense personal devotion to a personal God; in Islam, dhikr and Qur'anic recitation are devotional acts; Sufi orders emphasize zikr and love-driven paths. In Western Christianity, private devotions often accompany church life, but may also stand apart from formal worship.

Scholars describe devotionalism as a diverse phenomenon that can accompany reform, revival, or tradition maintenance. It has been linked to the growth of print culture, devotional literature, and lay religious associations. Critics argue that excessive privatization can diminish attention to communal responsibility or doctrinal challenge; supporters contend that devotion fosters discipline, moral formation, and accessible worship, enriching the spiritual life without rejecting doctrine or community.