apostasy means the act of denying something, usually related to the renunciation of a religion or religious faith.
It consists of the condition of total and definitive removal from something, such as a doctrine, ideology, etc., without the permission or authorization of third parties.
The apostate, an individual who practices apostasy, may in some cases suffer negative consequences for his act of renunciation.
Many doctrines and parties do not accept the free decision to abandon their members, who are persecuted, discriminated against or publicly defamed.
Etymologically, "apostasy" originated from the Latin apostasy, which means “defection” or “abandonment of a party”.
Apostasy in the church
This term is commonly used to refer to the act of renunciation of religious faith.
One of the best known apostates was Arius, who renounced the Catholic principle of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) as one being and created Arianism.
Learn more about Arianism.
In the religious realm, there are two main types of apostasy: the apostasy from specific doctrines or ideas.
Arius was considered a total apostate, when the individual totally loses his Christian faith and ceases to believe in God, for example.
Apostasy in the bible
In a passage in the book of Thessalonians, in the Bible, there is a mention of the act of apostasy. It refers to the "false Christian" renunciation of the faith, that is, those who really have God in their hearts will never commit apostasy.
"Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. Before that day the apostasy will come, and then the man of sin, the son of perdition, will be revealed." (2 Thessalonians, 2:3)
apostasy and heresy
In religion, apostasy and heresy have similar meanings.
Heresy means “option” or “choice”, and it consists in the confrontation of dogmas or principles of the church.
The heretic usually performs actions that contradict the values of a certain doctrine, being considered, consequently, an unclean individual deserving the punishments foreseen in the Word of God, according to the Bible.
The Holy Inquisition, for example, was a campaign to persecute heretics in the 13th century.
Learn more about the meaning of Heresy
