Apostasy

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Dr. Goodword
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Apostasy

Postby Dr. Goodword » Wed Mar 02, 2016 11:13 pm

• apostasy •

Pronunciation: ê-pah-tê-see • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: Renunciation of a belief system or part of a belief system: religious faith, political party, or other cause.

Notes: Someone who abjures from his or her principles may be called an apostate because their behavior is apostatic. Don't forget to insert the silent and semantically empty suffix -al before the adverbal suffix -ly: apostatically.

In Play: The original meaning referred to a rejection of religious belief: "In the Islamic State the punishment for apostasy from Islam is death." However, the meaning of today's Good Word has spread since its introduction into English: "When Susan switched her allegiance from the Denver Broncos to the Oakland Raiders, it was treated as apostasy by her family, all ardent Bronco fans."

Word History: Middle English borrowed Old French's apostasie "defection, desertion", which French legitimately inherited from Late Latin apostasia "defection". Latin borrowed and adapted its word from Greek apostasis "standing off, revolt". The Greek word was based on the root aposta- "to revolt", containing apo "(away) from) + sta, the root of histanai "to stand, take a stand". Greek remade this word out of PIE sta- "to stand", the same root that came to English as stand. But it was a popular root which English also converted stallion, the horse known for standing on its hind feet, stall, the place where you put stallions and other beasts, and stead, as in homestead and farmstead, where homes and farms stand. German converted it to Stadt "city", Stalag "camp", stehen "stand", and several other words. (It could be considered an act of apostasy if we forgot to thank Sue Gold of Westtown School for suggesting yet another excellent Good Word.)
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misterdoe
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Re: Apostasy

Postby misterdoe » Thu Mar 03, 2016 1:18 am

For some reason this reminds me of some years ago when I had a mailbox at a Mailboxes Etc. store, then decided not to renew. A few weeks later I went into the store to buy something or other, to have the sales clerk comment that she hadn't seen me in awhile. I said something like, "Oh, I, uh, kinda defected to the post office."

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call_copse
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Re: Apostasy

Postby call_copse » Thu Mar 03, 2016 7:25 am

The existence of ANY punishment for apostasy makes me very uneasy. I don't understand how you can expect your religion to be taken as a faith, if it is not a choice, it makes no sense at all. This is obviously not a swipe at Islam in general of course. I'd regard such as a key differentiator between positive and negative religious practice (if anyone needs to care about the views of as staunch an atheist as you might find!).
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George Kovac
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Re: Apostasy

Postby George Kovac » Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:37 am

I always found it intriguing that "apostle" and "apostasy" sound so similar and are both words with particular religious usages--yet represent such opposite concepts.

My layman's notion of etymology suggests that the relationship is due to a sharing of the Greek root "apo," which Dr. Goodword explains means "away from." The mission of the original twelve Apostles was to go out into the world--to go away from ancient Israel--to spread Christianity. Which leads to the irony that Judas Iscariot was both an Apostle and an apostate.
"Every battle of ideas is fought on the terrain of language." Zia Haider Rahman, New York Times 4/8/2016

Perry Lassiter
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Re: Apostasy

Postby Perry Lassiter » Fri Mar 04, 2016 12:02 am

An apostle is one sent; an apostate is one who leaves. Ergo, you are correct. The words are siblings.

The concept of excommunication is intended as a mere formalization by a church of what was initiated by the former adherent when they departed. Of course at times churches have abused the concept by kicking out people whose actions they feel jump the shark! I hear some Republicans feel certain claimants to their party have apostacized themselves.
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Re: Apostasy

Postby Pattie » Sun Mar 06, 2016 8:06 pm

Very entertaining, especially to theologian friends, to see signs on highways in Cyprus urging drivers to κρατάτε απόσταση - in modern Greek "keep your distance".
PattieT


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