having a stern look or manner; strict or severe in modes of living or acting
auster
profane speaking of God or of sacred things; an irreverent act or utterance
blasphemy
that which is held as an opinion; a belief, principle, doctrine (sometimes imperiously or arrogantly declared)
dogma
an obscure riddle or puzzle; a baffling situation or person
enigma
a belief or opinion at variance with established doctrine in religion or in other fields
heresy
characterized by a manner of speaking in which words are used to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; characteristic of that which is the direct opposite of what is expected or hoped for
ironic
an intricate structure or system of winding, interconnecting paths or passages; something highly intricate or perplexing in makeup
labyrinth
a quality, especially in literature or art, that awakens feelings of sympathy, pity, compassion, or sorrow
pathos
to try to convert
proselytize
an original held as the standard for subsequent forms
prototype
a fanatically devoted or committed person; an immoderate partisan