asebeia

On the other hand, the evidence makes it very difficult to assume a direct influence of the notion of asebeia, as defined by Diopithes, on the origins of heresy.

Dictionary of the History of Ideas ARNALDO MOMIGLIANO 1968

One might be asebes, impious, in relation to the dead, to one's own parents, to ambas - sadors of foreign countries, etc. In the criminal law of Athens asebeia was a technical term.

Dictionary of the History of Ideas ARNALDO MOMIGLIANO 1968

Latin-speaking Christians had no difficulty in using impius and impietas with the new meanings which Greek-speaking Christians had attributed to asebes and asebeia: disregard of god, idolatry, and even heresy.

Dictionary of the History of Ideas ARNALDO MOMIGLIANO 1968

On the whole one gathers the impression that asebeia was an offense against established religious customs rather than a denial of accepted dogmas.

Dictionary of the History of Ideas ARNALDO MOMIGLIANO 1968

The Greeks did not know heresy: they knew asebeia, as opposed to eusebeia, which is the proper behavior towards the gods, the parents (and the native land), and the dead.

Dictionary of the History of Ideas ARNALDO MOMIGLIANO 1968

It confirms that asebeia was not confined to offenses against gods.

Dictionary of the History of Ideas ARNALDO MOMIGLIANO 1968

Hebrew words indicating “evil” - doers and “evil” doings, and finally the early Christian transforma - tion — partly with Jewish precedents — of the classical notion of asebeia.

Dictionary of the History of Ideas ARNALDO MOMIGLIANO 1968

All these terms were often translated rather indiscrim - inately into Greek by eusebes and asebes (significantly, the Septuagint writers do not use the word atheos), and thus contributed to the Jewish-Christian connota - tion of asebes and asebeia as impiety involving idolatry and/or violation of the moral rules imposed by the true god.

Dictionary of the History of Ideas ARNALDO MOMIGLIANO 1968

Felling of sacred trees was probably treated as asebeia just as much as parody of mysteries.

Dictionary of the History of Ideas ARNALDO MOMIGLIANO 1968

About 430 B.C. a law was passed that extended the scope of the crime of asebeia and penalized opinion in religious matters as such.

Dictionary of the History of Ideas ARNALDO MOMIGLIANO 1968