Obedience is the action of obey especially in hierarchical organizations. Its about compliance with a command or order.
This word is used in different contexts, such as in religion, the army, family or education.
Comes from Latin oboedientĭaword derived from the verb oboediere (obey), formed by ob (confrontation, opposition) and listen (hear).
The word obedience can be replaced by the following synonyms: submission, compliance, subordination and subjection. On the other hand, antonyms of this term include: disobedience, rebellion or subversion.
Obedience to God
In a generic way, when some religions speak of ‘obedience to God’, reference is made to maintaining religious precepts and obligations, such as the commandments.
In Catholic religious orders, for example, the vow of obedience is, along with chastity and poverty, one of the three Evangelical Councils.
The word obedience is also applied, in this context, to the permission granted by a superior to carry out a certain task or trade and also to the job itself carried out by order of a superior.
Obedience in the Bible
The theme of obedience appears in Bible Christian in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. For example, this quote attributed to Jesus: “If you love me, keep my commandments”. (Jn 14:15)
Hierarchical obedience or due obedience
Due obedience is the obedience that is given to the hierarchical superior and that functions as an exemption from responsibility to the executor of the order if it involves committing a crime.
In Criminal Law, this situation exempts from criminal liability for crimes committed in compliance with an order issued by a hierarchical superior.
In a military organization such as the army, where there is a hierarchical structure, this term is used. This concept can be controversial.
For example, in Argentina a law was passed in 1987 called the Due Obedience Law that established that crimes committed by members of the Armed Forces during the 1970s and 1980s were not punishable for having acted following due obedience.
See also Submission.