Impiety: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Lack of respect for something sacred}} |
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'''Impiety''' is a perceived lack of proper respect for something considered sacred.<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impiety Merriam-Webster, s.v. ''impiety''].</ref> Impiety is often closely associated with [[sacrilege]], though it is not necessarily a physical action. Impiety cannot be associated with a [[Cult (religion)|cult]], as it implies a larger belief system was disrespected. One of the Pagan objections to [[Christianity]] was that, unlike other [[Greco-Roman mysteries|mystery religions]], early Christians refused to cast a pinch of incense before the images of the gods, an impious act in their eyes. Impiety in ancient civilizations was a civic concern, rather than solely religious (as religions were [[State religion|tied into the state]]). It was believed that impious actions such as disrespect towards sacred objects or priests could bring down the wrath of the gods. |
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'''Impiety''' is classically a lack of proper concern for the obligations owed to public religious observation or [[Cult (religion)|cult]]. Impiety was a main Pagan objection to [[Christianity]], for unlike other initiates into [[Greco-Roman mysteries|mystery religions]], early Christians refused to cast a pinch of incense before the images of the gods, among whom were the protective deified Emperors. Impiety in ancient civilizations was a civic concern, rather than religious. It was believed that it could bring down upon the whole ''[[res publica]]'' the wrath of the [[tutelary]] gods who protected the ''[[polis]]''. |
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[[Socrates]] and [[Anaxagoras]] were put to death for impiety (against ancient Greek gods), and [[Aristotle]] was also charged with impiety after the death of [[Alexander the Great]]. According to the ''Vita Aristotelis Marciana'', a much mutilated single manuscript in the [[Biblioteca Marciana|Biblioteca Nazionale di San Marco]] in Venice, written about 1300, Aristotle left the city, saying, "I will not allow the Athenians to sin twice against philosophy" (''Vita Aristotelis'', 41). The medieval Christian compiler has rendered the Athenians' crime as a "[[sin]]". However, sin was an alien concept to the Greeks and Romans. When Aramaic had to be translated into Greek in editing the [[New Testament]], the Greek word ''hamartia'' came to be used. ''Hamartia'' ("missing the mark") is only very approximately translated as "sin." |
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==Ancient Greece== |
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{{Main|Asebeia}} |
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The issue of impiety in antiquity is very controversial because of the anecdotal nature of extant sources.<ref>{{Cite journal|last = Filonik|first = Jakub|date = 2013|title = Athenian impiety trials: a reappraisal|url = http://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/Dike/article/view/4290|journal = Dike|language = en|volume = 16|pages = 11–96|doi = 10.13130/1128-8221/4290|issn = 1128-8221}}</ref> A number of Athenian men, including [[Alcibiades]], were sentenced to death for impiety in 415 BC, most of whom fled Athens before execution ([[Andocides]] was later charged in 400 or 399 BC in reference to these events). Most famously, the philosopher [[Socrates]] was executed for impiety (as well as corrupting Athenian youth) in 399 BC. An Athenian philosopher [[Anaxagoras]] taught that the sun and the stars were fiery stones whose heat we did not feel because of their distance, and was allegedly accused of impiety in Athens. [[Diagoras of Melos]] was reportedly accused of atheism and had to flee Athens after being charged with impiety for revealing the content of the [[Eleusinian mysteries]] to the uninitiated. Philosophers [[Aristotle]] and [[Theophrastus]] might have been accused of impiety as well. [[Phryne]] was put on trial for impiety and was defended by the orator [[Hypereides]]; she was acquitted. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Blasphemy]] |
* [[Blasphemy]] |
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* [[ |
* [[Pietism]] |
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* [[ |
* [[Sacrilege]] |
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* [[Sin]] |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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[[Category:Religious terminology]] |
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[[Category:Religious law]] |
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[[fr:Impiété]] |
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[[pt:Impiedade]] |
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Latest revision as of 17:42, 9 January 2025
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2013) |
Impiety is a perceived lack of proper respect for something considered sacred.[1] Impiety is often closely associated with sacrilege, though it is not necessarily a physical action. Impiety cannot be associated with a cult, as it implies a larger belief system was disrespected. One of the Pagan objections to Christianity was that, unlike other mystery religions, early Christians refused to cast a pinch of incense before the images of the gods, an impious act in their eyes. Impiety in ancient civilizations was a civic concern, rather than solely religious (as religions were tied into the state). It was believed that impious actions such as disrespect towards sacred objects or priests could bring down the wrath of the gods.
Ancient Greece
[edit]The issue of impiety in antiquity is very controversial because of the anecdotal nature of extant sources.[2] A number of Athenian men, including Alcibiades, were sentenced to death for impiety in 415 BC, most of whom fled Athens before execution (Andocides was later charged in 400 or 399 BC in reference to these events). Most famously, the philosopher Socrates was executed for impiety (as well as corrupting Athenian youth) in 399 BC. An Athenian philosopher Anaxagoras taught that the sun and the stars were fiery stones whose heat we did not feel because of their distance, and was allegedly accused of impiety in Athens. Diagoras of Melos was reportedly accused of atheism and had to flee Athens after being charged with impiety for revealing the content of the Eleusinian mysteries to the uninitiated. Philosophers Aristotle and Theophrastus might have been accused of impiety as well. Phryne was put on trial for impiety and was defended by the orator Hypereides; she was acquitted.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Merriam-Webster, s.v. impiety.
- ^ Filonik, Jakub (2013). "Athenian impiety trials: a reappraisal". Dike. 16: 11–96. doi:10.13130/1128-8221/4290. ISSN 1128-8221.
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