Legalism

Legalism is a rigid adherence to the letter of the law or to a strict interpretation of religious or moral codes. It often emphasizes outward compliance with rules over inner faith or genuine ethical understanding. This approach typically prioritizes regulations and prescribed behaviors, judging individuals based on their adherence to these externally imposed standards, often neglecting compassion, context, or intent. Legalism can manifest in secular contexts, emphasizing strict enforcement of laws and policies, or religious spheres, where tradition and ritual are elevated above personal relationship with a higher power.

Legalism meaning with examples

• The church's legalistic approach focused on strict adherence to a detailed set of rules, leading to judgment of those who didn't follow every regulation. Instead of fostering spiritual growth, the emphasis on external behaviors discouraged genuine faith. Many parishioners felt constrained by the rigid adherence to these strict codes, often feeling the emphasis on rules and regulations was detrimental to their emotional and spiritual well being.
• The company's legalistic policy manual, while designed to ensure fairness, contained complex regulations that, in practice, hindered responsiveness to unique situations. Employees found it cumbersome, and the rigid guidelines often impeded efficiency. Decisions often lacked context, and the bureaucratic nature of the system resulted in frustration among both employees and clients.
• The judge's legalistic interpretation of the law left no room for extenuating circumstances, leading to a harsh sentence for a defendant who committed a crime out of desperation. His adherence to the strict text of the law without consideration for the spirit of the law, and the person in front of him, resulted in great injustice for a remorseful person.
• Critics accused the political party of Legalism, arguing its unwavering commitment to existing policies, regardless of their impact, showed a disconnect from the needs of the people. The party's blind adherence to the rules, despite evidence of their ineffectiveness and harmful societal effects, revealed a lack of flexibility and a detachment from reality.