The phrase "outward form" refers to the appearance or physical aspects of something, rather than its internal or hidden qualities. It focuses on the way something looks or seems on the outside. Full definition
The age - long persistence of outward forms of animal sacrifice along with profound changes in the interpretation of their meaning presents one of the commonest phenomena of religious history — preservation of custom accompanied by alteration of theory. (religion-online.org)
Until the beginning of this century the Muslim intellectual could find the spiritual life he craved in the religious orders, but the orders and other religious institutions degenerated into the observance of outward forms which did not satisfy the intellectuals. (religion-online.org)
Looking at art works of Asian Christian artists, I sometimes wonder whether some of them have reproduced outward forms and images of other religions at the expense of the inner meanings symbolized by these forms and images. (religion-online.org)