heathenize

A missionary tries to heathenize the local population.

Definition

1. Verb (transitive and intransitive):
   • Transitive: To make someone or something heathen; to convert to a heathen (non-Christian, non-Jewish, non-Muslim) religion or belief system; to render pagan.
   • Intransitive: To become heathen; to adopt heathen practices or beliefs.

Usage Examples

• Transitive:

  • The missionaries accused the colonial traders of trying to heathenize the indigenous population. (To convert the local people to a non-Christian faith or to cause them to abandon Christianity.)
  • Some critics feared that the new art movement would heathenize traditional religious iconography. (To make religious art pagan or non-sacred.)

• Intransitive:

  • As the empire expanded, many of its subjects began to heathenize, adopting local pagan customs. (To become heathen or pagan.)
  • The isolated community slowly heathenized after losing contact with the church. (To gradually adopt non-Christian beliefs.)

Advanced Usage

• "to heathenize a culture": to systematically replace Christian or monotheistic elements with pagan ones.
  • The invaders sought to heathenize the conquered territory by destroying churches and erecting pagan temples. (To impose a pagan religion on the region.)

Variants and Related Words

• Heathen (noun/adj): a person who does not belong to a widely held religion (especially Christianity, Judaism, or Islam); a pagan; an irreligious person.

  • The ancient Romans considered the early Christians to be heathens. (People outside their polytheistic religion.)

• Heathenism (n): the state or quality of being heathen; pagan beliefs or practices.

  • The book describes the heathenism of the pre-Christian tribes. (Their pagan religious customs.)

• Heathenish (adj): resembling or characteristic of a heathen; uncivilized or irreligious.

  • His heathenish behavior shocked the pious villagers. (His irreligious or uncivilized conduct.)

Synonyms

• Paganize: to make or become pagan (similar in meaning, often used interchangeably).
• De-Christianize: to remove Christian influence or character from something.
• Gentilize (archaic): to make or become like a Gentile (non-Jew).

Related Idioms

• To go heathen: (informal) to abandon religious observances or adopt irreligious ways.
  • After moving to the city, he went completely heathen and stopped attending church. (He ceased practicing his religion.)

Note on Usage

The word "heathenize" is rare in modern English and is primarily found in historical, theological, or anthropological contexts. It often carries a pejorative tone, implying a regression from a "civilized" or "true" religion to a "primitive" or "false" one. Its use may be considered outdated or offensive when describing contemporary religious practices.