quietism
noun
qui·et·ism ˈkwī-ə-ˌti-zəm 
1
a
: a system of religious mysticism teaching that perfection and spiritual peace are attained by annihilation of the will and passive absorption in contemplation of God and divine things
b
: a passive withdrawn attitude or policy toward the world or worldly affairs
2
: a state of calmness or passivity
quietist
ˈkwī-ə-tist
adjective or noun quietistic
ˌkwī-ə-ˈti-stik
adjective 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Prayer is often seen as quietism, a plea to be rescued instead of a call to action. 
David S. Wallace, The New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2021 To their children, this position seems like unforgivable quietism and complacency. Jiayang Fan, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2019 What was an ultimately unsuccessful effort to draw the monkhood out of its political quietism swiftly mutated into an anti-progressive force, and continued to endure as a dark cloud over the region’s politics in subsequent decades. Amar Diwakar, The New Republic, 23 Mar. 2018 What was an ultimately unsuccessful effort to draw the monkhood out of its political quietism swiftly mutated into an anti-progressive force, and continued to endure as a dark cloud over the region’s politics in subsequent decades. Amar Diwakar, The New Republic, 23 Mar. 2018 To acknowledge this fact is not to call for quietism. Jacob Brogan, Slate Magazine, 27 Mar. 2017 The piece predicts that political quietism, wars, pandemics, and fossil-fuel stubbornness will lead to civilizational collapse and a long dark age. Joey Eschrich, Slate Magazine, 20 Sep. 2017 Diana was more aggressive, the clamorous defender of quietism. Tobi Haslett, The New Yorker, 29 May 2017 See More
David S. Wallace, The New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2021 To their children, this position seems like unforgivable quietism and complacency. Jiayang Fan, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2019 What was an ultimately unsuccessful effort to draw the monkhood out of its political quietism swiftly mutated into an anti-progressive force, and continued to endure as a dark cloud over the region’s politics in subsequent decades. Amar Diwakar, The New Republic, 23 Mar. 2018 What was an ultimately unsuccessful effort to draw the monkhood out of its political quietism swiftly mutated into an anti-progressive force, and continued to endure as a dark cloud over the region’s politics in subsequent decades. Amar Diwakar, The New Republic, 23 Mar. 2018 To acknowledge this fact is not to call for quietism. Jacob Brogan, Slate Magazine, 27 Mar. 2017 The piece predicts that political quietism, wars, pandemics, and fossil-fuel stubbornness will lead to civilizational collapse and a long dark age. Joey Eschrich, Slate Magazine, 20 Sep. 2017 Diana was more aggressive, the clamorous defender of quietism. Tobi Haslett, The New Yorker, 29 May 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
quiet entry 1 + -ism, after quietist "practitioner of quietism," probably borrowed from Italian quietista, from quiete quiet entry 1 + -ista -ist entry 1 (perhaps after Spanish oración de quietud, literally, "prayer of quiet," phrase used by the mystics Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross)
First Known Use
1687, in the meaning defined at sense 1a