nonOrthodox

NonOrthodox is an umbrella label used to describe beliefs, practices, or institutions that lie outside what a given tradition defines as orthodoxy. The term is often employed in religious, philosophical, or cultural contexts to indicate deviation from a recognized standard or set of doctrinal rules. Its usage can vary by tradition and scholarly or communal self-description, and it is sometimes written as non-Orthodox or nonorthodox depending on stylistic preferences.

In Judaism, nonOrthodox commonly refers to movements that depart from traditional rabbinic Judaism and halakhic law. This includes Reform, Conservative (Masorti), Reconstructionist, and secular or humanistic strands. In these contexts, nonOrthodox Judaism may emphasize altered or reinterpretive approaches to ritual practice, law, gender roles, and Jewish education while maintaining Jewish identity and continuity with past traditions. The term does not describe a single creed but a spectrum of communities with shared opposition to a strictly Orthodox framework.

In Christianity and other faiths, nonOrthodox can indicate denominations or groups outside the specific branch’s historic orthodoxy. For example, within global Christianity it may contrast Eastern Orthodoxy with Western churches such as Roman Catholicism and various Protestant traditions. In secular usage, nonOrthodox can describe viewpoints or movements that challenge established religious, philosophical, or cultural norms.

The label can be controversial because it centers on a standard of “orthodoxy” defined by others, rather than by those labeled. Some groups reject the term or prefer self-identification that do not emphasize deviation from orthodoxy.

See also: Orthodoxy, Religious movements, Judaism, Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism, Reconstructionist Judaism.