Definitions
- Referring to an act of appeasing or satisfying a deity or spirit. - Describing an attempt to gain favor or forgiveness from a higher power. - Talking about a ritual or sacrifice made to avoid punishment or calamity.
- Referring to an act of making amends or reparation for a wrongdoing. - Describing a process of atoning for a sin or offense committed. - Talking about a way to relieve guilt or remorse through a form of punishment or penance.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words involve seeking forgiveness or making amends for a wrongdoing.
- 2Both words are often associated with religious or spiritual contexts.
- 3Both words imply a sense of guilt or remorse.
- 4Both words suggest a need for action or sacrifice to rectify a situation.
- 5Both words can be used in a figurative sense to describe non-religious situations.
What is the difference?
- 1Focus: Propitiation focuses on appeasing a higher power, while expiation focuses on making amends for one's actions.
- 2Intent: Propitiation seeks to gain favor or avoid punishment, while expiation seeks to make up for a wrongdoing.
- 3Method: Propitiation involves a ritual or sacrifice, while expiation involves a form of punishment or penance.
- 4Context: Propitiation is often used in religious or spiritual contexts, while expiation can be used in both religious and secular contexts.
- 5Connotation: Propitiation can have a positive connotation of gaining favor or blessings, while expiation can have a negative connotation of making up for a wrongdoing.
Remember this!
Propitiation and expiation are both words that describe seeking forgiveness or making amends for a wrongdoing. However, the difference between the two lies in their focus, intent, method, context, and connotation. Propitiation is focused on appeasing a higher power and avoiding punishment, often through a ritual or sacrifice, while expiation is focused on making up for a wrongdoing and relieving guilt or remorse, often through a form of punishment or penance.
