Is the word "infidel" insulting?

[Malthus]

"naive" is somewhat insulting, as it is making a judgment on someone else's beliefs.

"infidel"... I suppose you could make the argument that it's merely a statement of fact, with no judgment involved, but I don't buy it.  I don't think it's a very useful word, and it is insulting.  Hell even in a church service I've never heard the word used.  When discussing people of differing beliefs it makes more sense to either properly identify them (i.e. call them muslims or jews), or go with a more neutral term like non-believer.

Wouldn't a Christian use the word "heathen" instead?

I don't think so - that word is I think reseved for people who don't worship the Judeo-Christian god (so Jews and Muslims can't really be 'heathens').

In its more informal sense, it simply means someone who is uncivilized.

[The Brain]

Some day Infidel will actually die.

[Admiral Yi]

Infidel sounds very analogous to non-believer to me.

[Eddie Teach]

Not all Christians will recognize that Muslims worship the same god.

Anyway, my point was it's a much more common word in Christian jargon. I did a search in the King James bible which turns up 145 uses of heathen vs 2 uses of infidel.

[Jacob]

Infidel sounds very analogous to non-believer to me.

Yeah... like isn't it basically latin for non-believer?

[Admiral Yi]

Yeah... like isn't it basically latin for non-believer?

Not faithful, I would imagine.

[Jacob]

Yeah... like isn't it basically latin for non-believer?

Not faithful, I would imagine.

Yeah, sounds right.

[Martinus]

It could also be a code for being in a gay neighbourhood of SF.

[garbon]

It could also be a code for being in a gay neighbourhood of SF.

I think you really only have The Castro in SF. There is a gay strip in SoMa and plenty of lesbians in Bernal Heights but it would probably be a mistake to call those gay neighborhoods.

[Razgovory]

I wish Brits would have known the "context" of this thread. 

Pro-tip for context:  Use the entire statement a person made rather then half.

[Scipio]

Heretics are people who nominally believe in a particular faith, with specific deviations from the norm. Heathens are those who in general lack religious faith and more specifically do not belong to any recognized religion. Infidels are those who specifically abjure a faith, rather than adhere to a faith.

So, to me, an Eastern Orthodox Christian, a Nestorian is a heretic, Martinus is a heathen, and Malthus is an infidel vis a vis Christianity (and possible Judaism- how nominally Jew-ish are you, Malthus?).

[Martinus]

It could also be a code for being in a gay neighbourhood of SF.

I think you really only have The Castro in SF. There is a gay strip in SoMa and plenty of lesbians in Bernal Heights but it would probably be a mistake to call those gay neighborhoods.

In-Fidel - > Fidel Castro - > in Castro. 

[Admiral Yi]

Not a keeper Marty.

[derspiess]

Not bad, Marti.  Not bad.

[garbon]

It could also be a code for being in a gay neighbourhood of SF.

I think you really only have The Castro in SF. There is a gay strip in SoMa and plenty of lesbians in Bernal Heights but it would probably be a mistake to call those gay neighborhoods.

In-Fidel - > Fidel Castro - > in Castro. 

Ah I see. I think that's too convoluted.

Also from my line of reasoning it should be "in the gay neighborhood of SF."