Apostasy is the act of abandoning one’s religious faith or political party. It is considered a grave sin and can have real-world consequences, including rejection and hardship for children of apostates and even being a capital crime in some countries. Apostasy involves a formal renunciation of faith and is often viewed pejoratively by those who remain within the faith. Choosing to apostatize can be difficult and requires a deep crisis of faith.
The act of abandoning one’s religious faith is known as apostasy. The term is also used more generally to talk about leaving a cause or political party. As a general rule, someone does not self-identify as an apostate, as the term is considered rather pejorative.
The word comes from a Greek term meaning “to leave one’s place”. Many religions prohibit apostasy, which is considered a grave sin. Someone who completely abandons God can be called an atheist as well as an apostate, but one who converts to another religion is also considered an apostate. Either way, some religious faiths believe that apostates are doomed to eternal torment for abandoning the true faith.
In addition to the alleged punishments of hell experienced by apostates, apostasy also has some very real earthly consequences. At the milder end of the scale, children of an apostate may encounter rejection and hardship if they attempt to carry on their faith or marry into their church. At the more serious end of the spectrum, apostasy is considered a capital crime in some countries, especially Islamic fundamentalist nations.
To commit apostasy, someone must publicly and formally reject their faith. If someone chooses to stop attending church services, praying, or observing religious practices, they may be considered lost, but not necessarily an apostate. An apostate makes a formal renunciation that signals a permanent break with the faith, and this breach cannot be repaired.
In many cases, the term is used pejoratively by people who remain within the faith. People may suggest that someone has left their faith because they are weak or for petty reasons. In most cases, an example will be sought from the life and choices of the apostate, so that other members of the faith do not follow suit. This is especially true with extremist cults and sects, which are unwilling to encourage defection by their members.
Choosing to apostatize can be very difficult, even when one is not threatened with death. The choice to publicly separate and potentially later criticize a religion is not taken lightly. Typically, someone has to be very faithful to commit apostasy in the first place, as only a deep crisis of faith can lead to such an action. It can also be difficult for someone considering apostasy to find a good spiritual advisor, which can be very alienating.
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