unchristianize

unchristianize

The pastor warned that secular influences could unchristianize the community.

Definition
  1. Verb:
    • To cause someone to abandon or renounce Christianity: "unchristianize" means to make a person, group, or institution cease to be Christian in belief, practice, or affiliation.
    • To remove Christian character or influence: It can also refer to stripping something (e.g., a culture, society, or institution) of its Christian identity or attributes.
Usage Examples
  • Verb:
    • The missionary feared that colonial policies would unchristianize the local converts. (The missionary worried that government actions would cause the converts to abandon their Christian faith.)
    • Some historians argue that secularization efforts in the 20th century sought to unchristianize public education. (They claim that removing religious elements made schools less Christian in nature.)
    • The new regime attempted to unchristianize the country by banning church services and religious symbols. (The government actively worked to eliminate Christian practices and identity.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to unchristianize a tradition": to remove Christian elements from a cultural or religious practice.

    • The festival was originally Christian, but over time it was unchristianized into a purely secular celebration. (The Christian aspects were deliberately taken out.)

  • "unchristianized" (past participle): describes a person or thing that has been made non-Christian.

    • The unchristianized population no longer observed any Christian holidays. (The people had been stripped of their Christian beliefs.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Unchristian (adj): not characteristic of Christianity; contrary to Christian principles.

    • His unchristian attitude of greed and selfishness shocked the congregation. (His behavior was not in line with Christian values.)

  • Christianize (v): to make Christian in character or belief.

    • Missionaries worked to Christianize the indigenous tribes. (They sought to convert them to Christianity.)

  • Dechristianize (v): a synonym meaning to remove Christian influence.

    • The revolution aimed to dechristianize the state. (It sought to eliminate Christian elements from government.)
Synonyms
  • Dechristianize: to strip of Christian character or influence.
  • Secularize: to remove religious (especially Christian) connections or authority.
  • Paganize: to make pagan or non-Christian in nature.
Phrasal Verbs
  • Unchristianize out: (rare) to gradually remove Christian influence over time.
    • The reforms unchristianized out many old traditions from the ceremony. (They slowly eliminated Christian elements.)
Related Idioms

  • To lose one's religion: to abandon or renounce one's faith (often used informally).

    • After the scandal, many followers lost their religion and were effectively unchristianized. (They gave up their Christian beliefs.)

  • To turn away from the cross: to reject Christianity.

    • The community turned away from the cross when the missionaries left, becoming unchristianized. (They abandoned Christian worship.)