The idea of renegade is used in the field of religion.
Renegade is an adjective that is used to describe someone who denies something . The verb renegade, for its part, refers to abandoning, rejecting or denying something, moving away from it .
Before moving forward, it is important to know the etymological origin of the term. In this sense, we can determine that it derives from Latin and that it is the result of the sum of two components of said language: the prefix re- , which can be translated as “backwards” ; and the verb negare , which means “to say no.”
The concept of renegade linked to religion
In this way, a person who voluntarily abandons one faith or religion to embrace another is usually described as a renegade. This meaning arose in medieval times when Christians and Muslims clashed and there were subjects who switched from one religion to another. He who abandoned his beliefs was marked as a renegade.
Precisely, history has left us a long list of renegades in religious matters, due to the different circumstances in which they had to live:
- Muladíes , were the Hispano-Visigoths who, during the 8th century in the territories that today make up Spain , converted to Islam.
- Elches , the Christians who converted to Islam.
- Moriscos , were the Muslims of Al-Andalus who, after the forced conversion established by the Catholic Monarchs , began to be baptized and “embrace” Christianity.
The notion in Islam
Currently, precisely within Islam there are strong controversies about those who carry out apostasy from said religion and become renegades.
Thus, for some faithful of that faith, the most rigid and intolerant, it is considered that the attitude of those who leave it aside should be punished with the death penalty. On the contrary, for others this action should not be condemned or punished, because freedom must be given to individuals.
A renegade is a rebellious individual.
Broader meaning of the term renegade
By extension, anyone who changes their way of thinking and deviates from a doctrine or philosophy that they previously defended is called a renegade.
For example: “I am fed up with the renegades of liberalism who now want to get closer to our government” , “I am not a renegade, I simply allow myself to question what seems wrong to me” , “There are many renegades of communism who now present themselves as champions ”. of freedom."
A TV series and several movies
“Renegade” , or “Renegade” in its original language, is the title of a television series produced in the United States that aired between 1992 and 1997 . Throughout 110 episodes , the experiences of a police officer named Reno Raines (played by actor Lorenzo Lamas ) are narrated, who is accused of a crime he did not commit. Reno escapes from prison and, while trying to clear his name, ends up becoming a bounty hunter.
“Renegade” was one of the most successful series of the 1990s , being broadcast in dozens of countries .
Likewise, we cannot forget that there are various films that use the term in question as their title. This would be the case, for example, of “The Renegade” . It is a 1954 French production, directed by Leo Joannon , which revolves around a man who gives up his robes to become a military officer.