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

The angel of the church in Smyrna is supposed to have been Polycarp, who, rather than to apostatize, was burnt alive in that city about A. D. 166.

From A Brief Commentary on the Apocalypse by Sylvester Bliss

It is well known that for many years past, it is hither that the Christians who have refused to apostatize, have been exiled from all the provinces of China. 

From Travels in Tartary, Thibet, and China During the years 1844-5-6. Volume 1 [of 2] by Evariste Regis Huc

They will see to it also that conversion shall go on without intimidation, and without danger that through threats of punishment any of those already converted should relapse or apostatize.

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 06 of 55 1583-1588 Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century by James Alexander Robertson

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

In the meantime the South had apostatized from the faith of Jefferson.

From The Impending Crisis of the South How to Meet It by Hinton Rowan Helper

Their constancy repaired the scandal given by Eudæmon, the bishop of Smyrna, there present, who had impiously apostatized and offered sacrifice.

From The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints January, February, March by Alban Butler

But if the militant labour leaders of Ireland have not apostatized, the same cannot be said of the working class as a whole....

From Six days of the Irish Republic A Narrative and Critical Account of the Latest Phase of Irish Politics by Louis George Redmond-Howard

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

When the kings of Judah apostatized, while the individuals were punished, the race was spared.

From Notable Women of Olden Time by Anonymous

Let us just see, in reference not to mere words, but to things, what can be truly meant by the terms ‘apostate or apostatizing Government,’ as applied to the Government of Great Britain.

From Leading Articles on Various Subjects by John Davidson

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

The first is the movement of the free-will towards God, and is an act of faith quickened by charity; and against this a man acts by apostatizing from the faith.

From Summa Theologica, Part III (Tertia Pars) From the Complete American Edition by Saint Aquinas Thomas

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 Aquinas Thomas

What was the fountain of this people's corruption, and apostatizing from their professions?

From The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning by Hugh Binning