What does the word "Infidel" mean?

[x007x]

I see this word on pictures, car stickers, AR ejection port covers and so on.. I thought it was a military thing for being over seas. Can anyone help decribe the meaning to me?
Thanks.

[K.Mooneyham]

Specifically, it means "unbeliever" or "one without faith". Colloquially, (for instance as used by some military members these days), it means those who do not believe in the tenets of Islam.

[x007x]

Ok, thanks.

[SSGMWP]

It's what Barak Hussein Obama calls conservatives.

[The Annoyed Man]

It is specifically how the Quran refers to anyone who is not a Muslim. It is of course a translation, and maybe it loses something in that translation....I don't know. We do have a smallish number of Muslim members, and maybe one of them could chime in and clear up any confusion in the matter, but this is how I understand it:

"Infidel" finds its roots in the same word as "fidelity." "Fidelity" means "faithfulness," "true in nature," etc. The Google defines it thusly:

Noun:

1. Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.
2. Sexual faithfulness to a spouse or partner.

Synonyms
faithfulness - loyalty - allegiance - faith - accuracy

We used to call expensive stereo equipment "Hi-Fi" which was short for "High Fidelity," which meant that the stereo system faithfully reproduced the original sound as recorded—without distortion or added background noise. So one who is an "infidel" is literally one who is not faithful to "religious truth" as perceived by the one who uses the word as an accusation. It can therefore be accurately paraphrased as "non-believer," which is itself a term in common use by Christians. As a Christian myself, I would refer to someone who does not share my faith as a "non-believer." That term would apply to anyone who is not a Christian, whether they are atheists, or followers of some other religious tradition.

The problem is one of perception on the part of the person so-labeled. The term I used—"non-believer"—is not accusatory. It is merely a statement of fact. It does not imply that the non-believer has any less value or any fewer rights as a human being than the believing person's value or rights. There is no implied superiority on my part because I am a Christian. In fact, my Christian faith means that I confess my complete inadequacy to achieve righteousness, and so I must therefore rely on the righteousness of my God, because I have no righteousness of my own (Romans 3:21-31). Therefore, I am able to live peacefully with my non-believing neighbors, and peace between us does not depend on their acceptance of my religious standards because I am no better than they are.

Now (and this is where I would really appreciate some explanation from a Muslim forum member), as I said, the problem is one of perception on the part of non-Muslims toward the word "Infidel." Throughout history, the word has been wielded as an accusation or perjorative, and as a statement of the other person's worth....or lack thereof....because we understand it as a term which permits the believing Muslim to treat us differently than they would treat themselves or another believing Muslim. We non-Muslims have even borrowed the term to disparage others who do not agree with us ("that Diane Feinstein is a 2nd Amendment infidel"). And in terms of the OP's original question, it has become a proud statement of independence from what is perceived to be bondage to a graceless world view. An analogy might be if a leftist said "All AR15 owners are crazy," and someone like myself might answer "If owning an AR15 is crazy, then I'll wear the label proudly because you are in bondage to a bankrupt ideology!" So consequently, motivated by anger toward intolerant radical Islamists (which honestly does not describe a majority of Muslims, who mostly just want to leave peaceful lives), many Americans have begun to market products and wear clothing proudly proclaiming themselves to be "Infidels."

Personally, I have avoided wearing anything that says "Infidel," for much the same reason I don't wear clothing which identifies me as a "Jesus Freak." I know what I believe. I believe it to be true. I will happily talk about Jesus to anyone who is willing to listen, but I am not about getting up in anyone's face about the superiority of my beliefs or the inferiority of theirs. It is not my job to convert people. It is my job to be willing to talk to people who are willing to talk. It is the Holy Spirit's job to touch their hearts. All I can do is put a face on Jesus. I don't think that "in your face" slogans is the way to do that......but that's just me. Your mileage may vary.

[PUCKER]

I'm speaking of the word itself, at least in the top part of my post, so, keep on reading all the way down.

I believe that Infidel is the root of "Infidelity"...you hear of someone who was cheating on the spouse and they are said to be acting with infidelity, that person is an infidel. On the flip side, you hear of stereos that have "High Fidelity" and such.

So, definitions and etymology...from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fidelity" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Middle English fidelite, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French fidelité, from Latin fidelitat-, fidelitas, from fidelis faithful, from fides faith, from fidere to trust.
First Known Use: 15th century

Definition of FIDELITY
1a : the quality or state of being faithful
b : accuracy in details : exactness
2: the degree to which an electronic device (as a record player, radio, or television) accurately reproduces its effect (as sound or picture)

Examples of FIDELITY
music with much higher fidelity than on cassettes

<they have never wavered in their fidelity to the cause of freedom>
Yet as Reardon emphasizes early on, fidelity to facts was never the point. The same dinner with friends could appear over and over in Fisher's published work, rejiggered each time to make a different point. —Laura Shapiro, New York Times Book Review, 12 Dec. 2004

Synonyms: adhesion, allegiance, attachment, commitment, constancy, dedication, devotedness, devotion, faith, faithfulness, fastness, fealty, loyalty, piety, steadfastness, troth
Antonyms: disloyalty, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, inconstancy, infidelity, perfidiousness, perfidy, treachery, unfaithfulness

Alright, let's look at INFIDELITY...the opposite of FIDELITY, right? Sorta, kinda...

Definition of INFIDELITY
1: lack of belief in a religion
2a : unfaithfulness to a moral obligation : disloyalty
b : marital unfaithfulness or an instance of it

The, let's look at INFIDEL...interesting how the moooooooslems have bastardized it (ie - Christianity).

Definition of INFIDEL
1: one who is not a Christian or who opposes Christianity
2a : an unbeliever with respect to a particular religion
b : one who acknowledges no religious belief
3: a disbeliever in something specified or understood

So, with all that blah blah blah....I am an INFIDEL, but not in the true meaning of the word.

[RoyGBiv]

I am an Infidel.
I have the T-shirt to prove it.
Wife got it for me for Christmas.

[Purplehood]

The problem is one of perception on the part of the person so-labeled. The term I used—"non-believer"—is not accusatory. It is merely a statement of fact. It does not imply that the non-believer has any less value or any fewer rights as a human being than the believing person's value or rights. There is no implied superiority on my part because I am a Christian. In fact, my Christian faith means that I confess my complete inadequacy to achieve righteousness, and so I must therefore rely on the righteousness of my God, because I have no righteousness of my own (Romans 3:21-31). Therefore, I am able to live peacefully with my non-believing neighbors, and peace between us does not depend on their acceptance of my religious standards because I am no better than they are.

TAM,

If more Christians lived by this simple precept I would have less of a problem than I do with organized religion.

This infidel commends you.

[The Annoyed Man]

The problem is one of perception on the part of the person so-labeled. The term I used—"non-believer"—is not accusatory. It is merely a statement of fact. It does not imply that the non-believer has any less value or any fewer rights as a human being than the believing person's value or rights. There is no implied superiority on my part because I am a Christian. In fact, my Christian faith means that I confess my complete inadequacy to achieve righteousness, and so I must therefore rely on the righteousness of my God, because I have no righteousness of my own (Romans 3:21-31). Therefore, I am able to live peacefully with my non-believing neighbors, and peace between us does not depend on their acceptance of my religious standards because I am no better than they are.

TAM,

If more Christians lived by this simple precept I would have less of a problem than I do with organized religion.

This infidel commends you.

Well thank you, but don't commend me. Commend my pastor, whose favorite non-scriptural quote is "We're all just messed up people trying to move forward." That would describe me to a "T"—just a messed up guy trying to move forward.

By the way, I differentiate between faith and religion. Christianity is faith. Catholicism/Baptism/Presbytarianism/Etc is religion. I am a member of a Baptist church, but I have known many Catholics who were awesome Christians, and many Baptists were not Christian at all. So what really counts is faith in Christ, and Him crucified. The outer trappings of religion are largely a distraction from faith, and it is frequently said that sometimes the Church (at large) is its own worst enemy. But I have come to accept that the Church is a hospital for sinners rather than a hotel for saints. Some of my fellow Christians take exception to that, I think based on the notion that a saved sinner is somehow no longer a sinner (Paul, in Romans Chapter 7 would take exception to that notion), but as a leader in my church's recovery ministry, I have known far too many believing Christians who struggle with addictions to sinful things and who sincerely desire to be free of that bondage to think otherwise. As an imperfect man myself, saved only through the perfection of Christ and not through any righteousness of my own, I am not inclined to change that opinion. Sanctification is two-fold: the instant sanctification upon salvation; and the lifelong walk of trying to be Christ-like. I am frequently a failure at the latter, but His grace covers my failures, and I keep trying to move forward. Since I am myself imperfect, I am not likely to judge a Muslim or Jew for being imperfect. However, I would still maintain that faith in Christ is still the only true way to connect with God and to secure one's eternal fate on the positive side of the ledger. So it is for that reason that I am happy to talk about Christian faith specifically to anyone who wants to talk about it, and to let the Holy Spirit be Holy and do His work in them. Whether that person is willing or unwilling to have that conversation, and whether they are willing or unwilling to come to the right decision afterwards, those things are between that person and God. I am not their judge.

[PUCKER]

Well said TAM. I'm a sinner, we all are. Some just don't admit it.

Referencing your last line specifically. I have a good buddy that is an atheist, we have had some very interesting conversations. I do what I can, I feel compelled, but in the end, the choice is his.

[3dfxMM]

I do what I can, I feel compelled, but in the end, the choice is his.

He probably says the same thing about you.

[Beiruty]

TAM,
As a Muslim and Sunni Muslim born and raised as Muslim, I can lay down my 2 cents.
In Islam, you either Believe in the Message of Prophet and Messenger of God, Muhammad (PBUH) or you do not.
1) The Believers (Mu'menoun) and who attested by uttering in Arabic or other languages what means" I do believe and solemnly attest that there is no god, but God (Allah in Arabic) and Muhammad is his Prophet and Messenger". Thus, they are now called Muslims.
2) The Non-Believers, (or Kafiroun, plural of Kafir) are who do not fall under 1)

3) If a believer committed a Kufor i.e. Blasphemy, he/she would be a Murtad, i.e Became Kafir after being Muslims. That is Apostasy.

Non-believer are still human beings and should be treated according to the Tenant of Islam, Compassionately and with Mercy.
The subject is very diverse and long and I have to go back to work. I will be glad to elaborate more later when I done working.

[PUCKER]

I do what I can, I feel compelled, but in the end, the choice is his.

He probably says the same thing about you.

LOL...to more or less quote him (10 year old daughter rule): "It's your hades, you burn it it."

We have mutual respect for each other and we do look at the lighter side of religion or lack thereof.

[anygunanywhere]

Over the years I have had many friends who are muslims.

I have many friends who are from varioius middle East/Arab countries including Iran, Iraq, SA, and more. I even had a friend who was an Iraqui Cristian. He was the most radical of all my friends. For the most part I cannot tell you if they were muslims or not. None of them wore their religion on their sleeve.

They lived it.

The most striking characteristic of all of these friends is that they would have done anything for me if I had asked, and to this very day when we meet there is a warmth between us that I have seldom encountered even in my circle of close Catholic brothers and sisters.

Anygunanywhere

[RoyGBiv]

The problem is one of perception on the part of the person so-labeled. The term I used—"non-believer"—is not accusatory. It is merely a statement of fact. It does not imply that the non-believer has any less value or any fewer rights as a human being than the believing person's value or rights. There is no implied superiority on my part because I am a Christian. In fact, my Christian faith means that I confess my complete inadequacy to achieve righteousness, and so I must therefore rely on the righteousness of my God, because I have no righteousness of my own (Romans 3:21-31). Therefore, I am able to live peacefully with my non-believing neighbors, and peace between us does not depend on their acceptance of my religious standards because I am no better than they are.

TAM,

If more Christians lived by this simple precept I would have less of a problem than I do with organized religion.

This infidel commends you.