3 words heard in politics that have (surprise!) religious origins

Anathema

Newt Gingrich “has won the loyalty, for now, of many Republican primary voters, despite holding views that might appear anathema to them.” (The Wall Street Journal)

Something that is anathema is hated, repulsive, or cursed—the epitome of evil.

Anathema comes from a Greek word that described something that was cursed or devoted to evil; later, in Latin, it was associated with excommunication.

For example, in the 1200s, the Catholic Church enacted various levels of excommunication, and the most severe—cutting a person off from God and the Church, proclaiming him damned—was also called anathematization.

The curse read during the excommunication ceremony was called the anathema.

Rubric

“U.S. troops are expected to be stationed in nearby Gulf states and could ultimately return under the rubric of ‘military training’ for the Iraqi army.” (Democracy Now)