Priestcraft

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Priestcraft \Priest"craft`\, n.
     Priestly policy; the policy of a priesthood; esp., in an ill
     sense, fraud or imposition in religious concerns; management
     by priests to gain wealth and power by working upon the
     religious motives or credulity of others.
     [1913 Webster]


  
           It is better that men should be governed by priestcraft
           than by violence.                        --Macaulay.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  priestcraft
       n 1: a derogatory reference to priests who use their influence to
            control secular or political affairs
       2: the skills involved in the work of a priest