[.eXe]

Are they committing treason or are they just exercising their freedom of decision-making?

What do you think? If you at some point hold allegiance to a religion, are you automatically bound to it for life?

Is abandoning a religion comparable to a soldier abandoning his army?

Is apostasy treason?

* I'm just asking in general. Everyone knows my views on Islam but there is really no place for them on this thread. I just want answers to my very specific question.

[hamijack]

Not really. Treason is betraying your country and a religion isn't a country.

[Lord-Voldemort]

No because, traditionally, treason has been encompassing war against the state or the death of the Sovereign. The only thing apostasy is comparable to is relinquishing one's nationality and becoming a naturalised citizen in another nation - which, as far as I am aware, has rarely come under the meaning of 'treason'.

[.eXe]

The primary definition is to go against a country.

But treason does not necessarily have to be against a country. You can commit treason (or betrayal) against your someone or thing.

Source: http://www.google.ca/search?sugexp=c...define+treason

[Lord-Voldemort]

(Original post by .eXe)
The primary definition is to go against a country.

But treason does not necessarily have to be against a country. You can commit treason (or betrayal) against your someone or thing.

Source: http://www.google.ca/search?sugexp=c...define+treason

Yes, but even 'petty treason', which was not against the state, involved some sort of malice in the betrayal (such as a wife killing her husband).

[Spaz Man]

It depends on what they do afterwards to be honest. If they then go on to slander the religion and hate everything they once stood for they'll lose a lot of respect from the people they used to call brethren.

[.eXe]

(Original post by Lord-Voldemort)
Yes, but even 'petty treason', which was not against the state, involved some sort of malice in the betrayal (such as a wife killing her husband).

Fair point, and I agree with you.

Not sure if you're a theist or not but do you see organized religion as a collective movement or an individual movement? What I mean is, within a religion is each individual separate or are they all together under one term of christian or muslim or jew, etc?

[.eXe]

(Original post by Spaz Man)
It depends on what they do afterwards to be honest. If they then go on to slander the religion and hate everything they once stood for they'll lose a lot of respect from the people they used to call brethren.

Okay, so if they do go and speak out against their prior beliefs, would you only then consider it treason?

[Lord-Voldemort]

(Original post by .eXe)
Fair point, and I agree with you.

Not sure if you're a theist or not but do you see organized religion as a collective movement or an individual movement? What I mean is, within a religion is each individual separate or are they all together under one term of christian or muslim or jew, etc?

In theory (and sometimes enforced): collective, in reality: individual beliefs, desires, etc.

[Spaz Man]

(Original post by .eXe)
Okay, so if they do go and speak out against their prior beliefs, would you only then consider it treason?

Specifically slandering I would consider it beneath his/her dignity but I wouldn't associate it with treason as it would be his loss not mine.

[bkeevin]

(Original post by .eXe)
Are they committing treason or are they just exercising their freedom of decision-making?

What do you think? If you at some point hold allegiance to a religion, are you automatically bound to it for life?

Is abandoning a religion comparable to a soldier abandoning his army?

Is apostasy treason?

* I'm just asking in general. Everyone knows my views on Islam but there is really no place for them on this thread. I just want answers to my very specific question.

Of course it is treason if you want to follow the Biblical commandments apostates must be stoned to death.


Deutoronomy 17;2-7
''2 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant,

3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;

4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:

5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.

6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.''

[TheHistoryStudent]

Honestly, I don't think so...

Treason
noun
1.
the offense of acting to overthrow one's government or to harm or kill its sovereign.

2.
a violation of allegiance to one's sovereign or to one's state.

3.
the betrayal of a trust or confidence; breach of faith; treachery.

http://dictionary.reference.com/

While some of those sound like apostasy could be "treasonous" I dont think the act itself of leaving a religion could be considered so, because leaving a religion doesn't = trying to over-throw it. I mean, if you took that in it's literal form, then you could argue that anyone who emigrates from a country has commited treason - when that is not necessarily true.

I think the other thing surrounding this is that treason operates on a different plane to religion, because while treason seems (to me) to be more concerned about physical things, physical acts and so on, religion seems to be most about spiritual things and acts - and in my opinion it's difficult to overlap one with the other - laws about physical things affecting spiritual things basically...

[Carter78]

Nope. And for the records Blasphemy is a victimless crime..

[snozzle]

(Original post by Carter78)
Nope. And for the records Blasphemy is a victimless crime..

Yes that is why it is a bad analogy. Treason would be an action which materially harms ones country (or Sovereign). Apostasy is just changing ones beliefs.

A better analogy for apostasy would be the act of renouncing one's nationality/citizenship.

[Carter78]

(Original post by snozzle)
Yes that is why it is a bad analogy. Treason would be an action which materially harms ones country (or Sovereign). Apostasy is just changing ones beliefs.

A better analogy for apostasy would be the act of renouncing one's nationality/citizenship.

I wasn't making a direct analogy between the two, but yes Apostasy is counted as an "offence", although I struggle to see who is harmed or "offended" by it...