What’s in a Name? Part 1 - by Ps Michael Podhaczky

Have you ever been called a name that was demeaning or shaming? How did you feel, and how did you respond? In all honesty, did you think that you needed to defend yourself, or did you just let it go? There is a lot of this happening these days, in the media, social media and even amongst friends. If someone does not agree with another person or group, then they may default to name calling. We have all heard the names like ‘Bigot,’ ‘Hater,’ ‘…phobe.’ etc.

I would look at one of these names, i.e. ‘Bigot.’ Have you ever been called a bigot? Have you ever called someone a bigot? But, what is a bigot if it is a go-to name for so many. Today, the word has evolved to mean, “One who is narrowly or intolerantly devoted to his or her opinions and prejudices.”[1] However, the etymology is not so clear cut.[2] It has been said that,

“It used to mean ‘hypocrite; someone who professes his religious views with excessive zeal.’ Today a bigot is a fanatic, a dyed in the wool adherent of some political doctrine (which, as pointed out, does not coincide with ours)… Of all the conjectures on the etymology of bigot, I find the one by the French linguist Maurice Grammont (1866-1946) the best… Grammont proposed that bigot is a shortening of Albigot. Albegensian heresy flourished at the end of the twelfth and the beginning of the thirteenth century in southern France, that is, exactly where and when the word bigot seems to have turned up for the first time.”[3]

The Albegensian heresy was,

“A heretical Catharist (meaning ‘pure’) sect of southern France in the 12^th–13^th centuries, believing in a form of Manichaean dualism with an extremely strict moral and social code.”[4]

While Manichaean dualism believes that it is,

“A dualistic religious system with Christian, Gnostic, and pagan elements, founded in Persia in the 3^rd century by Manes (c.216–c.276) and based on a supposed primeval conflict between light and darkness.”[5]

However, as we have seen these days, it means something different. There is considerable subjectivity with its usage these days. It is more a weapon to do as much damage to someone’s reputation as anything else. Thus, we can see from this blog that ‘Bigot’ today is not what it meant in the past. As with many English words it has evolved to take on a new meaning. So let me ask you again, “Have you ever been called a bigot? Have you ever called anyone a bigot?” So, before we use words to demean or shame others, we need to stop and find out what they mean first. We also need to ask; as a Christ-follower by using it, would I glorify our Heavenly Father.

Pause in His presence for a moment and think this over…

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[1] “bigot.” https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bigot (20^th March 2019). See also, “Bigot.” https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/bigot (20^th March 2018).

[2] “The London Literary Gazette and Journal of Belles Letters, Arts, Sciences, Etc: Bigot.” No 272 (April 6, 1982). In The London Literary Gazette and Journal of Belles Letters, Arts, Sciences, Etc. (London: B. Bensley, 1823), 217. “Bigot.” https://www.etymonline.com/word/bigot (20^th March 2018).

[3] Liberman, Anatoly “Nobody wants to be called a bigot.” (2011) https://blog.oup.com/2011/10/bigot-2/ (20^th March 2019).

[4] “Albigenses.” https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/albigenses (20^th March 2019).

[5] “Manichaeism.” https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/manichaeism (20^th March 2019).