[uh-pos-tuh-see] 
| a total desertion of or departure from one's religion, principles, party, cause, etc. |
| a·pos·ta·sy (ə-pŏs'tə-sē) n. pl. a·pos·ta·sies Abandonment of one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause. [Middle English apostasie, from Old French, from Late Latin apostasia, defection, from Late Greek apostasiā, from Greek apostasis, revolt, from aphistanai, aposta-, to revolt : apo-, apo- + histanai, to stand, place; see stā- in Indo-European roots.] |
apostasy
the total rejection of Christianity by a baptized person who, having at one time professed the Christian faith, publicly rejects it. It is distinguished from heresy, which is limited to the rejection of one or more Christian doctrines by one who maintains an overall adherence to Jesus Christ.
Learn more about apostasy with a free trial on Britannica.com.
tə