Heresy
<p ><b>Heresy</b> (from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek_language" title="Ancient Greek language" class="mw-redirect" >Greek</a> αἵρεσις, which originally meant "choice", also referred to that process whereby a young person would examine various philosophies to determine how to live one's life) was redefined by the Catholic church as a belief that conflicted with established Catholic dogma. Eventually it took on the meaning of an accusation levied against members of another group which has beliefs that conflict with those of the accusers. It is usually used to discuss violations of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion" title="Religion" >religious</a> or traditional laws or codes, although it is used by some political extremists to refer to their opponents. It carries the connotation of behaviours or beliefs likely to undermine accepted morality and cause tangible evils,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damnation" title="Damnation" >damnation</a>, or other punishment. In some religions, it also implies that the heretic is in alliance with the religion's symbol of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil" title="Evil" >evil</a>, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan" title="Satan" >Satan</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaos_(cosmogony)" title="Chaos (cosmogony)" >chaos</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heresy#cite_note-0" >[1]</a></sup> It is distinct from<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostasy" title="Apostasy" >apostasy</a>, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause,<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heresy#cite_note-1" >[2]</a></sup> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy" title="Blasphemy" >blasphemy</a>, which is irreverence toward religion.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heresy#cite_note-2" >[3]</a></sup> The founder or leader of a heretical movement is called a <b>heresiarch</b>, while individuals who espouse heresy or commit heresy, are known as <b>heretics</b>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heresiology" title="Heresiology" >Heresiology</a> is the study of heresy.
The word <i>heresy</i> is usually used within a Christian, Jewish, or Islamic context, and implies something slightly different in each. In certain historical Christian and Jewish cultures, heresy was punishable by law.</p>