Heresy is a doctrine that conflicts with the accepted teachings of a religion or other authority. The term also refers to the holding of such a belief. Heresy comes from a Greek word that means choose or prefer. A person who believes in a heresy is a heretic. Many religious groups consider conscious heresy immoral and sometimes excommunicate heretics. A number of heretics have formed their own religious groups.
Some teachings have become heresies only after being rejected in favor of other teachings that became orthodox doctrine. For example, early Christians developed several interpretations of New Testament references to a Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. By the late 300’s, church authorities officially accepted one interpretation, making the others heresies. For examples of Christian heresies, see Albigenses ; Arianism ; Gnosticism ; Roman Catholic Church (Jansenism) .
For centuries, civil and religious leaders tried to stamp out heresy. Many heretics were imprisoned, exiled, tortured, or executed. Today, heresy is no longer punished by imprisonment or death. Some Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist groups punish heretics by excommunicating them.
