apostatize

The conundrum is one that has nothing to do with Rodrigues’s decision whether to lay down his life, but with his reluctance to apostatize, even in the face of others’ deaths.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 5, 2017

For example, "recreant, renouncing the faith, from the old French recroire, which again is from the mediaeval Latin recredere, to 'believe back,' or apostatize."

From Among My Books Second Series by James Russell Lowell

Furthermore, under the stress of intolerable circumstances, a few of the Bábís were constrained to recant their faith, while others went so far as to apostatize and join the ranks of the enemy.

From God Passes By by Shoghi Effendi

The districts where Christianity had been so widely diffused remained tranquil, and the Christians in the cities where the mutineers were raging did not apostatize; but, unless they could conceal themselves, suffered with the whites. 

From Pioneers and Founders or, Recent Workers in the Mission field by Charlotte Mary Yonge

If, however, the eldest son consented to apostatize, the estate was settled upon him, the father from that hour became only a life-tenant, and lost all power of selling, mortgaging, or otherwise disposing of it.

From Handbook of Home Rule Being articles on the Irish question by Edwin Lawrence Godkin

But when no Portuguese ship arrived, he apostatized; ordered his vassals to return to their old faith, and expelled the missionaries.

From A History of the Japanese People From the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era by F. (Frank) Brinkley

One whom I knew well, though he was not of our Mission, apostatized to save his life, and died most miserably, abandoned by his new fellow-religionists, and tenderly watched by those whom he had left.

From Life and Work in Benares and Kumaon, 1839-1877 by James Kennedy

Dispensation succeeded dispensation, as age succeeded age; time and time again the people apostatized, but each time some little remnant of divine truth remained with them.

From An Examination into and an Elucidation of the Great Principle of the Mediation and Atonement of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by John M. (John Metcalf) Taylor

It was a dark hour around the Prophet in Kirtland, many having apostatized, and some of them prominent Elders, when Brother Kimball and some others were called upon to take a mission to England.

From Life of Heber C. Kimball, an Apostle The Father and Founder of the British Mission by Orson F. Whitney

Under this pressure about one-half of the converts apostatized, but the rest threatened to leave Kuchinotsu en masse.

From A History of the Japanese People From the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era by F. (Frank) Brinkley

The term apostate, or apostatizing, can have only an official meaning.

From Leading Articles on Various Subjects by John Davidson

Therefore we ought not to refuse allegiance to a sovereign on account of his apostatizing from the faith.

From Summa Theologica, Part II-II (Secunda Secundae) Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province by Saint Thomas Aquinas

Without openly apostatizing, they insisted on a measure of independence.

From The Story of the Mormons, from the date of their origin to the year 1901 by William Alexander Linn

Subsequently apostatizing from him and uniting with Mr. Jason W. Briggs, in forming the "Reorganized church."

From Succession in the Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by B. H. Roberts

Every opportunity was given for apostatizing and for escaping death.

From A History of the Japanese People From the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era by F. (Frank) Brinkley