An infidel (from the Latin in fidelis, literally, "one without faith") is one who rejects central tenets of a religion, doctrine, system, or principle.
The Catholic Church used this term, now seen as an archaism, to describe anyone who had not received Baptism. [1]. It attained special promenance during the Crusades when Papal decree meant that slaying an Infidel, specificaly Jews or Muslims, would count as a form of Penance.
In Catholic theology, simply being an infidel does not imply that one is a sinner. The Church recognises that infidels may perform good deeds of virtue and charity, but holds that, without baptism, they will be excluded from paradise.[1].
Non-Believers in other religions
editExternal references
edit- Catholic Encyclopedia entry on "Infidel"
- Merriam-Webster definition for "infidel".
- Merriam-Webster definition for "unbeliever".