Apostasy

The term apostasy (Greek αποστασία apostasía waste "; ἀφίσταμαι of aphistamai fall off ',' dismissed ' ) refers to the rejection of a religion by a formal act ( for example, leaving the church or transfer to another confession, conversion). Someone who performs apostasy is an apostate. While heresy denies only one or more traditional teachings of the religion, there is apostasy in the rejection of the abandoned religion as such.

The term comes from the Christian tradition, especially the Roman Catholic Church. Today, however, he is also widely associated with Islam.

Christianity

The Shepherd of Hermas teaches in the 2nd century, that there is no forgiveness for those who deny the Lord deliberately ( 74.2 or sim. 8,8,2 ). So apostasy was one of the sins for which the Old Church imposed eternal penance and excommunication and the forgiveness of sin, leaving God alone.

The apostasy in the Roman Catholic understanding or canon law is in Can. 751 set of 2 Code of Canon Law in 1983 legally defined. This three cases of apostasy can be distinguished:

  • Apostasia a fide, the complete and voluntary abandonment of the Christian faith: It does not matter whether the Apostate joins another religion or atheist or agnostic is. According to Can. 1364 § 1 Code of Canon Law, 1983, the apostate will be punished with excommunication.
  • Apostasia from ordine, the laying down of the priesthood. The Council of Chalcedon ( held in 451 ) declared for excommunication. Today, the gem leads to the loss of priestly privileges. Can. 194 § 1 No. 2 Code of Canon Law in 1983 and can lead to excommunication.
  • Apostasia a religione, the culpable abandonment of an order by a monk or a nun with the intention not to return and to evade the obligations of religious life. Since the Council of Chalcedon is it excommunication. However only applies to the final and unauthorized leaving of the Order; not as apostasy, however, a temporary unauthorized stay outside the Community or of the monastery and the Order of exit apply with appropriate dispensation ( indult ) the competent ecclesiastical authority; nor leaving a religious community with the aim to join another.

Emperor Gratian issued a decree 383, which apostasy drew the loss of civil rights obtained.

Today, the term apostasy is no longer used by most denominations.

Islam

While the Quran does not prescribe any worldly punishment for apostasy from Islam, the Prophet is said to have certain traditions, according to the commandment expressed to such a penalty. According to classical Islamic law, public Announced apostasy is punishable by death if the invitation to return ( istitāba ) is not followed in Islam.

In parts of the Islamic world the death penalty is provided for the renunciation of Islam still.

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