Apostates

[Canadian75]

What are the punishments (temporal and/or spiritual) for apostacy in your faith? I know Islam has the death penalty and eternal damnation for apostates and Catholicism used to have the death penalty (for those who lead someone to apostacy and apostates were tried in the inquisition) and Christianity, in general ,still has eternal damnation for apostates. And the more I think about it the more I realize I cannot think of any other groups that would kill an apostate. As for the eternal damnation part, I figure Islam and Christianity are the only faiths that "damn" their apostates. I could be wrong.

What about your faith?

 

[Osiris]

I would say that any religion that holds the belief of a HELL would in a way condem their apostates.

About islam killing their apostates, I have heard of that as well. I just think that it is really awful that that happens. I mean, most likely god(or the god that religious people think) doesn't exist, and the islamic apostates are just being killed in vain for being intellectually honest.

 

[Gardenia]

In the tradition I practice there is no punishment of any kind for leaving the faith.

 

[Achichem]

What are the punishments (temporal and/or spiritual) for apostacy in your faith?

That depends on what you leave: leave belief and you will be troubled; leave commitment and you will be burdened; leave hope and you will be blinded; leave faith and you will be empty; leave Balance and you will be twisted; leave council and you will be lonely; leave oath and you will be naked; leave eternal life and you will be forever dead.

 

[arunma]

Christianity (not even Catholicism, unless I'm mistaken) doesn't prescribe a punishment for apostates. Hebrews 6:4 says, "For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit." Now obviously, there are Christians who lose their faith, and then regain it. So this verse obviously applies to those who never return to the faith. I suppose the "punishment" for apostasy is to be condemned to hell.

But once a person is anathema, 1 Corinthians 5:12 applies: "For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?" So if a person wants to leave the faith, let him leave.

 

[Montalban]

I would say that any religion that holds the belief of a HELL would in a way condem their apostates.

The belief that God might condemn an Apostate is different from me believing that you're condemned.

For instance, Orthodoxy might hold that you need to be a Christian to get to heaven, however we also say that the ultimate judge is God; who knows what's in your heart.

That is different from saying "You're going to hell" (with a sense of absolute certainty).

About islam killing their apostates, I have heard of that as well. I just think that it is really awful that that happens. I mean, most likely god(or the god that religious people think) doesn't exist, and the islamic apostates are just being killed in vain for being intellectually honest.

There is no 'compulsion' in religion!

(so I'm told all the time)

 

[tocis]

What are the punishments (temporal and/or spiritual) for apostacy in your faith?

Here's the complete list of punishments for Asatru apostates:

(BEGIN)
(END)

 

[Arthra]

In the Baha'i Faith there is no penalty to withdraw one's membership. The person is not treated any differently except that they no longer have any administrative privileges such as voting or holding office in the Baha'i community.

They can also re-apply for membership anytime they wish to.

 

[Montalban]

In the Baha'i Faith there is no penalty to withdraw one's membership. The person is not treated any differently except that they no longer have any administrative privileges such as voting or holding office in the Baha'i community.

They can also re-apply for membership anytime they wish to.

How often do you have to renew your membership? Do you get a free magazine with it?

 

[Montalban]

Here's the complete list of punishments for Asatru apostates:

(BEGIN)
(END)

Here's a complete list of Asatru followers:

 

[AudioArtist]

I've lost my faith and come back. I think the story of the prodigal son is a good way to understand how this works in Christianity.

According to the New Testament church guidelines, there is no punishment for those who leave, except for the fact that they won't be welcome in the church again while in a state of disbelief. The only think we are to do before doing that is to try and persade them back on the right track:

James 5:19-21: My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

 

[psychedelicist]

The punishment for taoist apostacy is... not leading a taoist lifestyle. That's pretty much it.

 

[Osiris]

The belief that God might condemn an Apostate is different from me believing that you're condemned.

For instance, Orthodoxy might hold that you need to be a Christian to get to heaven, however we also say that the ultimate judge is God; who knows what's in your heart.

That is different from saying "You're going to hell" (with a sense of absolute certainty).

Well, I guess it'd be an indirectly "you're going to hell".

There is no 'compulsion' in religion!

(so I'm told all the time)

I would say that there is.

 

[Arthra]

How often do you have to renew your membership? Do you get a free magazine with it?

In the Americas and Europe and some other areas when someone declares their belief in Baha'u'llah and becomes a Baha'i they make application to the Baha'i community. When approved they receive a membership card and magazine on Baha'i activities. There is no "renewal" of membership. Once a Baha'i is registered they participate in voting, office holding and conventions, etc.

In countries where the Faith is not recognized we don't have an administration as such.

- Art

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

In the Americas and Europe and some other areas when someone declares their belief in Baha'u'llah and becomes a Baha'i they make application to the Baha'i community. When approved they receive a membership card and magazine on Baha'i activities. There is no "renewal" of membership. Once a Baha'i is registered they participate in voting, office holding and conventions, etc.

I just want to say that you are patient and loving man. I felt like saying it right now.

 

[Arthra]

Thanks Bushmaster!

I'm going on a little trip with my family today and your kind thoughts are appreciated!

God bless you!

- Art

 

[jon paine]

I would say that any religion that holds the belief of a HELL would in a way condem their apostates.

About islam killing their apostates, I have heard of that as well. I just think that it is really awful that that happens. I mean, most likely god(or the god that religious people think) doesn't exist, and the islamic apostates are just being killed in vain for being intellectually honest.

I totally agree with you, Osiris.
It was my disagreement with the Baptist belief, that God is a good god but an angry god, that prompted me to become an apostate from Christianity. But all of the Abrahamic faiths(Judaism, Christianity, Islam) hold to this belief in a Santa Claus type god that inevitably will fry the majority of humanity. Makes absolutely no sense. My realization of the Truth has indeed made me free. Today I am proud to be called a Universist.

 

[maladroit]

In the Americas and Europe and some other areas when someone declares their belief in Baha'u'llah and becomes a Baha'i they make application to the Baha'i community. When approved they receive a membership card and magazine on Baha'i activities. There is no "renewal" of membership. Once a Baha'i is registered they participate in voting, office holding and conventions, etc.

In countries where the Faith is not recognized we don't have an administration as such.

- Art

i have a question about baha'ism although it may be completely off topic: from what i understand, its a very enclusive religion that accepts all sorts of people... except... it seems to exclude the exclusionists, which contradicts itself... could you perhaps explain?

 

[stillsmallvoice]

Hi all!

A Jew who (God forbid!) adopts another faith, is still Jewish. However, until he/she repents & renounces the other faith that they have adopted, a number of disabilities are heaped on them. Such a person is to be shunned. If a man, he cannot be counted as part of the necessary quorom for group prayer; he may not be given any synagogue or community honor; he may not teach Judaism; act as a rabbi, mohel (ritual circumciser), or shokhet (kosher butcher). Under Jewish law, he is disinherited. If such a person dies unrepentant, I believe that he/she either may not be buried in a properly-consecrated Jewish cemetery or must be buried in a special section.

Judaism is a club that once admitted into (either by birth or orthodox conversion), you can never leave. A Jew who thinks that he/she can absolve him/herself of his/her covenental obligations by, say, adopting Christianity or Islam is sorely mistaken. In Ezekiel 20:32-33, God says:

"...and that which comes into your mind shall not be at all; in that you say: We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone. As I live, says the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, will I be king over you;"

One of my rabbis says that, the wood mentioned above refers to the Cross (i.e. Christianity), while the stone refers to the Kaaba (i.e. Islam). While the Jewish community can merely heap diabilities on apostates, it is God who will punish them.

I hope this doesn't offend anyone (God forbid!), because I know it's going to sound harsh, but...Not for nothing did Dante place not murderers, not rapists, but traitors in the lowest circle of Hell. A sane Jew who (God forbid!) knowingly, willingly, and under no compulsion whatsoever, abjures Judaism for another faith is a blackhearted rogue & a traitor who betrays his people and his God. I would pray that they repent but barring that I wish them ill and suffering. Why am I reacting with such vitriol? Our Sages say that, "All Israel is responsible one for the other." We Jews are a small people; we constitute one organic whole. When a Jew abjures his faith, it is like having a limb ripped off or an organ torn out. It is a raw wound that never heals & which hurts more than you can possibly imagine. We all suffer, we are all diminished thereby. Thus, to those who knowingly inflict this on us, I react as I have.

Be well!

ssv

 

[maladroit]

One of my rabbis says that, the wood mentioned above refers to the Cross (i.e. Christianity), while the stone refers to the Kaaba (i.e. Islam). While the Jewish community can merely heap diabilities on apostates, it is God who will punish them.

interesting... but i think it would be more logical to assume that the wood and stone refer to all religions with idols. christains do not worship the cross so that wouldn't really make sense.