Propitiation vs. Atonement — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 2, 2023
Propitiation is the act of appeasing a god or spirit, while atonement is making amends or reparation for wrong or sin.
Difference Between Propitiation and Atonement
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Propitiation involves actions or offerings to appease or placate a deity or spirit. In contrast, atonement focuses on making amends for wrongdoing or sin, often involving a sense of moral repair.
Propitiation is commonly used in the context of religious or spiritual rituals. Atonement can have both religious and secular applications, such as reconciliation and making up for misdeeds.
In many religions, propitiation may involve sacrifices or rituals to win favor or forgiveness from a deity. Atonement, on the other hand, may involve acts of penance, restitution, or seeking forgiveness from those wronged.
Propitiation often has a sense of averting anger or punishment from a higher power. In contrast, atonement emphasizes reconciliation and restoring balance after an offense.
Comparison Chart
Focus
Appeasing deities
Making amends
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Context
Religious rituals
Religious and secular
Actions
Sacrifices, offerings
Penance, restitution
Purpose
Avert anger or punishment
Reconciliation, moral repair
Scope
Often divine-focused
Human and divine aspects
Compare with Definitions
Propitiation
The act of making someone less angry or hostile.
He offered a gift as a propitiation for his earlier rudeness.
Atonement
Reconciliation after wrongdoing or conflict.
She sought atonement by volunteering at the charity.
Propitiation
An offering or sacrifice to a deity to win favor.
The villagers made a propitiation to the local deity for a good harvest.
Atonement
Compensation or amends for injury or wrong.
The company made atonement for the environmental damage.
Propitiation
The act of appeasing a god or spirit.
The ancient ritual was meant for the propitiation of the rain god.
Atonement
A religious observance to seek forgiveness or reconciliation.
The festival was dedicated to atonement and renewal.
Propitiation
Atoning or conciliating the gods or spirits.
In mythology, propitiation often involved elaborate ceremonies.
Atonement
The act of making amends for a wrong or sin.
The day of atonement is an important religious observance.
Propitiation
An action taken to regain someone's favor.
His sincere apologies served as a propitiation to his friend.
Atonement
The act of making reparation for guilt or wrongdoing.
Atonement for his mistakes involved a heartfelt apology.
Propitiation
The act of propitiating; placation, atonement, similar to expiation but with the added concept of appeasement of anger.
Atonement
Atonement (also atoning, to atone) is the concept of a person taking action to correct previous wrongdoing on their part, either through direct action to undo the consequences of that act, equivalent action to do good for others, or some other expression of feelings of remorse. From the Middle English attone or atoon ("agreed", literally "at one"), now meaning to be "at one", in harmony, with someone.
Propitiation
Propitiation is the act of appeasing or making well-disposed a deity, thus incurring divine favor or avoiding divine retribution. While some use the term interchangeably with expiation, others draw a sharp distinction between the two.
Atonement
Amends or reparation made for an injury or wrong; expiation.
Propitiation
The act of propitiating.
Atonement
(Judaism) An individual's reconciliation with God by means of repentance and confession of one's transgressions.
Propitiation
Something that propitiates, especially a conciliatory offering to a god.
Atonement
Atonement(Christianity) The reconciliation of God and humans brought about by the redemptive life and death of Jesus.
Propitiation
(theology) The death of Christ as a basis for the forgiveness of sin.
Atonement
(Obsolete) Reconciliation; concord.
Propitiation
The act of appeasing the wrath and conciliating the favor of an offended person; the act of making propitious.
Atonement
Making amends to restore a damaged relationship; expiation.
Propitiation
That which propitiates; atonement or atoning sacrifice; specifically, the influence or effects of the death of Christ in appeasing the divine justice, and conciliating the divine favor.
He [Jesus Christ] is the propitiation for our sins.
Atonement
The reconciliation of God and mankind through the death of Jesus.
Propitiation
The act of placating and overcoming distrust and animosity
Atonement
(archaic) Reconciliation; restoration of friendly relations; concord.
Propitiation
The act of atoning for sin or wrongdoing (especially appeasing a deity)
Atonement
Reconciliation; restoration of friendly relations; agreement; concord.
By whom we have now received the atonement.
He desires to make atonementBetwixt the Duke of Gloucester and your brothers.
Atonement
Satisfaction or reparation made by giving an equivalent for an injury, or by doing of suffering that which will be received in satisfaction for an offense or injury; expiation; amends; - with for. Specifically, in theology: The expiation of sin made by the obedience, personal suffering, and death of Christ.
When a man has been guilty of any vice, the best atonement be can make for it is, to warn others.
The Phocians behaved with, so much gallantry, that they were thought to have made a sufficient atonement for their former offense.
Atonement
Compensation for a wrong;
We were unable to get satisfaction from the local store
Atonement
The act of atoning for sin or wrongdoing (especially appeasing a deity)
Common Curiosities
Can propitiation involve sacrifices?
Yes, propitiation often involves sacrifices or offerings to a deity.
What's the purpose of propitiation?
The purpose of propitiation is to appease a higher power and avert anger or punishment.
What is propitiation?
Propitiation is the act of appeasing or placating a deity or spirit, often through offerings.
What does atonement mean?
Atonement refers to making amends or reparation for wrongdoing or sin.
Is atonement always religious?
No, atonement can be both a religious and a secular act of making amends.
What are examples of atonement?
Examples include apologies, community service, or reparations for harm done.
Can atonement restore relationships?
Yes, atonement is often about reconciliation and restoring damaged relationships.
How does atonement differ in a secular context?
In a secular context, atonement involves making up for wrongs through actions like apologies or restitution.
Are rituals necessary for propitiation?
Rituals are commonly part of propitiation in many religious traditions.
Is propitiation only for divine beings?
Primarily, but it can also refer to actions meant to appease or conciliate people.
Can atonement involve personal sacrifice?
Yes, atonement can involve personal sacrifice, penance, or restitution.
Does atonement always require forgiveness?
Atonement often seeks forgiveness, but it primarily focuses on making amends.
Is propitiation an outdated concept?
While less common in modern times, propitiation still exists in various religious practices.
Are propitiation and atonement interchangeable?
Not really, as they have distinct meanings and contexts, though they both relate to addressing wrongs.
Can propitiation change a deity's will?
In some beliefs, propitiation is thought to influence or change a deity's will.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
