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| {{dablink|For the Infocom text adventure, see ].}} | {{dablink|For the Infocom text adventure, see ].}} | ||
| An '''infidel''' ( |
An '''infidel''' (literally, "one without faith") is an unbeliever concerning central tenets of a ], often used in a ] sense to describe those who explicitly deny them (especially regarding asserted aspects of a religion's ]). More generally, an infidel is one who doubts or rejects a particular ], ], or ]. | ||
| *In ], "infidel" is an ] now supplanted usually by "non-Christian". | |||
| The word, though now seen as an ], was used by the ] to describe anyone who had not recieved ], the primary of the seven ]. | |||
| *In ], the word '']'' ('''كافر'''), which is of ] origin and dates from ]ic times, is used to describe non-]s frequently in a derogatory sense. ''Kafir'', as well as its ] equivalent '']'', are terms usually translated into English as "infidel" or a ] for "infidel", "unbeliever". | |||
| The word was given special promenance during ] when Papal decree meant that slaying an Infidel, specificaly ]s or ]s, would count as a form of ]. | |||
| In Catholic theology, simply being an infidel does not imply that one is a sinner, and the church recognises that infidels may perform good deeds of virtue, charity, etc, however, without baptism they will be excluded from paradise. Proposals to record "all works of infidels are sinful, and all the virtues of the philosophers are vices" or "purely negative infidelity in those to whom Christ has not been preached is a sin" were both opposed by the papal authorities. | |||
| ===Non-Believers in other religions=== | |||
| * The ] word '']'' ('''كافر''') is used by ] to describe non-Muslims and tend to be translated as "infidel" in western media. Owing to its use in a derogatory manner, some Muslims now prefer to use the term "Non-Muslim". ] speaking Muslims may use the word '']'' in this respect. | |||
| * The word ] (Or ]) is used by some to describe non-jews or Non-]s. | |||
| * The word ] is used by Hindus to describe non-Hindus, and is the Hindu equivalent of ], in that its original meaning is someone who speaks a different language (and thus is of a different faith). | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 09:59, 20 April 2006
For the Infocom text adventure, see Infidel (computer game).An infidel (literally, "one without faith") is an unbeliever concerning central tenets of a religion, often used in a pejorative sense to describe those who explicitly deny them (especially regarding asserted aspects of a religion's deities). More generally, an infidel is one who doubts or rejects a particular doctrine, system, or principle.
- In Christianity, "infidel" is an archaism now supplanted usually by "non-Christian".
- In Islam, the word kafir (كافر), which is of Arabic origin and dates from pre-Islamic times, is used to describe non-Muslims frequently in a derogatory sense. Kafir, as well as its Turkish equivalent giaour, are terms usually translated into English as "infidel" or a synonym for "infidel", "unbeliever".
External links
- Catholic Encyclopedia entry on "Infidel"
- Merriam-Webster definition for "infidel".
- Merriam-Webster definition for "unbeliever".