Is the word "infidel" insulting?

[Malthus]

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?).

Don't agree with the second definition - from a Christian perspective, what is a Hindu? I would say "heathen" (though the use may be insulting) as a Hindu isn't a believer in the same god as the Christian.

Jews in most sects don't recon Jewishness by belief. I'm a 'bad Jew' because I don't follow Jewish rituals, not because I don't believe in the Jewish god. 

[Martinus]

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?).

Don't agree with the second definition - from a Christian perspective, what is a Hindu? I would say "heathen" (though the use may be insulting) as a Hindu isn't a believer in the same god as the Christian.

Jews in most sects don't recon Jewishness by belief. I'm a 'bad Jew' because I don't follow Jewish rituals, not because I don't believe in the Jewish god. 

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."

Yeah. If there is one English language mistake I make fairly often, it's misusing the/a. Unless I proofread the text before sending I always make a few of those.

[grumbler]

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. 

I lol'd. 

[viper37]

This is about the word "kuffar" which I understand is Arabic for "infidel". Would you say it is insulting/offensive or is it just a description of a fact from the perspective of a believer?

I'm curious at Languish opinion.

it is meant to be insulting.  I am not insulted because I am a non believer, but others could be offended.

[Siege]

Infidel = infidelity, a negative trait, therefore infidel is offensive.

[Siege]

[Siege]

[11B4V]

What we got here is a Crusader, caught in the vanity of his own religion.

[MadImmortalMan]

I liked that movie. 

[CountDeMoney]

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

I lol'd.

[dps]

Infidel = infidelity, a negative trait, therefore infidel is offensive.

Siegy's got it right--the term implies apostasy, not just non-belief, and is intended as an insult.  OTOH, Muslims seem to often misuse it to apply to non-Muslims.  So I wouldn't be insulted if a Muslim were to call me an infidel--I've never been a Muslim, so I'd find someone accusing me of having fallen away from that faith inaccurate, not insulting.

[Jacob]

Infidel = infidelity, a negative trait, therefore infidel is offensive.

Siegy's got it right--the term implies apostasy, not just non-belief, and is intended as an insult.  OTOH, Muslims seem to often misuse it to apply to non-Muslims.  So I wouldn't be insulted if a Muslim were to call me an infidel--I've never been a Muslim, so I'd find someone accusing me of having fallen away from that faith inaccurate, not insulting.

I think Muslims tend to use "kuffir" rather than "infidel".

[crazy canuck]

Infidel = infidelity, a negative trait, therefore infidel is offensive.

Siegy's got it right--the term implies apostasy, not just non-belief, and is intended as an insult.  OTOH, Muslims seem to often misuse it to apply to non-Muslims.  So I wouldn't be insulted if a Muslim were to call me an infidel--I've never been a Muslim, so I'd find someone accusing me of having fallen away from that faith inaccurate, not insulting.

I think Muslims tend to use "kuffir" rather than "infidel".

The Muslims I know tend to use the word "tall".

[Jacob]

The Muslims I know tend to use the word "tall".

To describe dps?

[Sheilbh]

Would you be insulted if someone were to call you a Goy?

Not really. And for the record I don't find infidel/kuffar offensive either. For me it's the same as me, as a non-religious person, calling religious persons naive. Some people apparently do find it offensive, though. I am just curious what Languish thinks.

Kaffir/kuffah is offensive because it was racist slang in South Africa and, to a lesser extent, the UK. It's not because it means infidel.