History Main / TheHeretic

* The Priest legacy from ''VideoGame/CultistSimulator''. Officially, they're the Christian priest of a [[TownWithADarkSecret quiet parish]]. However, their teachings soon become sprinkled with ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow, and they seek to ascend to become an EldritchAbomination

** The Omnian church indegenerated into this from its original purpose. Discworld gods need belief to survive, but as their religion gets more and more elaborate, people believed in the rituals and ceremonies more than the god itself, until Om was almost starved and the church became a totalitarian nightmare, with a special Quisition being formed to root out heretics in their own fold. They they started looking for heretics (and witches) abroad, such as those who might preach ridiculous nonsense like the world being flat and carried on the back of a giant turtle, when every good Omnian knows the world is round. ''Discworld/SmallGods'' shows how they finally got out of this mindset thanks to Om's last true believer (the book has simultaneously been called an attack on, and a defense of, Christianity). The later ''Discworld/TheScienceOfDiscworld IV'' features an unreconstructed Omnian [[TheFundamentalist fundamentalist]] who comes very close to accusing ''Om'' of heresy.
** As mentioned in ''Discworld/TheFifthElephant'', dwarfs think they have no religion, but "being a dwarf" ''is'' a religion. ''Discworld/{{Thud}}'' introduces the deep-down grags, who seem to believe almost all dwarfs are heretics of this religion. By ''Discworld/RaisingSteam'', they are described as being well on their way to suspecting ''each other'' of heresy, based on any form of dissent whatsoever.

[[TitleDrop The Heretic]] is someone who has committed ThoughtCrime or outright Treason against TheChurch; a person who has corrupted, perverted and manipulated its philosophy and ideology. Most commonly, he was once a member of its congregation or even its [[GoodShepherd clergy]] but got officially excommunicated for propagating beliefs that go against TheChurch's official dogma. Often, the Church sends out [[KnightTemplar Knights Templar]] to [[KillItWithFire Kill Them With Fire]] along with [[BurnTheWitch witches]]. Just being a heretic doesn't mark you evil by default: A heretic to a SaintlyChurch is often ChaoticEvil, but a heretic to a CorruptChurch or a PathOfInspiration may well be a DefectorFromDecadence. [[EvilVersusEvil Or just as bad as them.]]

TheHeretic is someone who has committed ThoughtCrime or outright Treason against TheChurch; a person who has corrupted, perverted and manipulated its philosophy and ideology. Most commonly, he was once a member of its congregation or even its [[GoodShepherd clergy]] but got officially excommunicated for propagating beliefs that go against TheChurch's official dogma. Often, the Church sends out [[KnightTemplar Knights Templar]] to [[KillItWithFire Kill Them With Fire]] along with [[BurnTheWitch witches]]. Just being a heretic doesn't mark you evil by default: A heretic to a SaintlyChurch is often ChaoticEvil, but a heretic to a CorruptChurch or a PathOfInspiration may well be a DefectorFromDecadence. [[EvilVersusEvil Or just as bad as them.]]

Heresy [[MemeticMutation (BLAM!)]] is derived from the Greek word ''haeresis'', meaning "party" or "sect" (as in heterodox splinter group, an organized minority who go against {{canon}}). It is ultimately derived from the verb ''haireo'', meaning (among other things) "to choose," "to prefer," so etymologically, a heretic can be thought of as a person who chooses his own path. This need not be true in practice, of course, as the heretic may adhere to his own set of beliefs just as unreflectively as any mainstream believer. However, under systems which promote rigidly dogmatic ideologies, free-spirited persons who oppose them will almost by default be labeled heretics by the authorities.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}''[='s=] [[ChurchMilitant theocratic]] [[TheEmpire Imperium of Man]] has a saying: "light your way in the darkness with [[BurnTheWitch the pyres of burning heretics]]." The civil war that almost destroyed it after its founding and put the GodEmperor on life-support is labeled the Literature/HorusHeresy, there's an entire Ordo of the [[StateSec Inquisition]] devoted to rooting out heresy, and being executed for heresy is [[EverythingIsTryingToKillYou just one of the many ways to die in the 41st millennium]]. Some would say this can be [[{{Flanderization}} exaggerated]] into an overused {{meme|ticMutation}}, but that would be- "HERESY!" '''*[[BoomHeadshot BLAM]]*'''

*** Thus, the use of the term "Heresy", in Imperial lexicon, does not necessarily mean deviation from religious doctrine, in contrast to the original meaning of the term. Deviations are allowed as long as you have a clear God-Emperor Figure to focus worship upon, such as a MessianicArchetype. In the context of the Imperium, the term "Heresy" actually refers to what real-world political and legal language would call "High Treason"; betrayal of the State to outside enemies such as the Chaos Gods or rival Xenos empires. Shouting "HERESY!" [[MemeticMutation (blam)]] is just a more medieval and [[RuleOfCool awesome]] way to call political dissidents or traitors to the State.

'''Heresy [[MemeticMutation (BLAM!)]]''' is derived from the Greek word ''haeresis'', meaning "party" or "sect" (as in heterodox splinter group, an organized minority who go against {{canon}}). It is ultimately derived from the verb ''haireo'', meaning (among other things) "to choose," "to prefer," so etymologically, a heretic can be thought of as a person who chooses his own path. This need not be true in practice, of course, as the heretic may adhere to his own set of beliefs just as unreflectively as any mainstream believer. However, under systems which promote rigidly dogmatic ideologies, free-spirited persons who oppose them will almost by default be labeled heretics by the authorities.

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** The Disciples of Andraste were an insular PathOfInspiration that managed to steal her ashes after her body burned at the stake and safeguarded it in a temple located in the Frostback Mountains between the border of Orlais and Ferelden. After centuries, the group began to worship an High Dragon believing her to be Andraste reincarnated. By the time of the third game, the Chantry has retaken the Temple of Sacred Ashes and driven the cult underground.
** The Blades of Hessarian are a cult that derive their name from the Tevinter that slayed Andraste and now follow his example by [[TheScourgeOfGod delivering judgment upon the weak and corrupt]]. The Chantry believes their supposed founder, a slave named Trefir who stole the sword used to kill her, likely never existed and is an pure fabrication.

To qualify as a heresy worthy of condemnation, the "heresy" should have an intrinsic connection to doctrines of the church in question. Someone who merely disagrees with the Church as an outsider is not a heretic - Non-followers are more properly called "pagans" or "heathens". Heresy was distinguished from heathenism in that a heathen blasphemed simply because he or she was ignorant of God's light, whereas a heretic knowingly contradicted the teachings of God and the Church. As long as heathens did not endanger the Christian faith then it's ok to do trade with them; but a Heretic who modified the doctrines of Christianity while still claiming to be Christian was dangerous to the unity of the Faith. For instance, Hypatia of Alexandria, Wiccans and Buddhists are not considered "heretics" to the Catholic religion, but Padre Ned Reidy was put on trial for heresy.

'''Heresy [[MemeticMutation (blam)]]''' is derived from the Greek word ''haeresis'', meaning "party" or "sect" (as in heterodox splinter group, an organized minority who go against {{canon}}). It is ultimately derived from the verb ''haireo'', meaning (among other things) "to choose," "to prefer," so etymologically, a heretic can be thought of as a person who chooses his own path. This need not be true in practice, of course, as the heretic may adhere to his own set of beliefs just as unreflectively as any mainstream believer. However, under systems which promote rigidly dogmatic ideologies, free-spirited persons who oppose them will almost by default be labeled heretics by the authorities.

* The eponymous character from ''VideoGame/{{Heretic}}'', of course. The Heretics in question were the Sidhe elves, the only race of beings not subject to the [[{{Brainwashed}} sorcerous mind control]] of the [[BigBad Serpent Riders]], and thus targeted for extermination by their minions.
* The Heretic Leader from ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'', an Elite who learned the truth about the "Great Journey" from 343 Guilty Spark and tried to warn the rest of the Covenant. The Arbiter is also branded a heretic at the beginning for his failure in [[VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved the previous game]], but that's really just an excuse to have him executed for his failure. [[spoiler:He abandons his own religious beliefs after discovering the truth about the Covenant and ends up leading a splinter faction which allies with the "heathen" humans.]]
* Ramza from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' gets branded as a heretic when he runs afoul of their AncientConspiracy and kills a (demon-possessed) bishop in self defense. On the other hand, Olan Durai is also burned at stake for trying to reveal the truth behind The Lion War and Ramza's unsung heroism.
** However, both appear to have been VindicatedByHistory by the time of ''VideoGame/VagrantStory'''s events later in the Ivalice continuity.
* Billy from ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'' rejects the doctrines of his church once he learns of its sponsorship and purpose.
* Pellegri from ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}}'' stops just short of accusing her superior, Margulis, of heresy when he questions the authority of Lord Heinlein.
** On that note, Shion and Jin, who both are likely to have extensive ties to the Ormus religion - physically beat the crap out of '''UsefulNotes/ThePope''' at the end of ''Episode II''.
* Yuna becomes a heretic in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' when she resolves to reject the teachings of Bevelle and fight Sin to destruction.
** Happens to quite a few people in that game, notably the Crusaders being excommunicated for their use of machina, despite their perfectly good intentions and their continued belief in Yevon.
*** Not to mention the clergy actually backed the attempt to use machina to fight Sin. As soon as it failed, they pretended otherwise.

* In ''VideoGame/MedievalIITotalWar'', regions where your faith isn't overwhelmingly dominant may spawn Heretics, or even convert a Priest you have stationed there to heresy. Since Heretics spread heresy and cause religious unrest, it's a good idea to have your Priests subject them to trials and [[BurnTheWitch burn them at the stake]]. If you're Catholic and you ''don't'' deal with Heretics, UsefulNotes/ThePope will send [[DemonicSpiders Inquisitors]] to your lands to start examining family members.
* Byakuren Hijiri from ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' is a heretic by the virtue of being compassionate to the {{Youkai}}. In this settings, the very presence of Celestial beings can harm Youkai regardless of either sides' morality.
** Before that, there was Rikako Asakura, who was branded heretical for believing in science over magic.
* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', it is revealed that the Geth the player had been fighting in ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' were actually a fanatical splinter group called Heretics by the True Geth. Making up about five percent of the total Geth population, Legion emphasises that the Heretics ''chose'' to worship the [[EldritchAbomination Reapers]], instead of upholding the rather non-religious notion of self-determination of the True Geth.
* In ''VideoGame/CrusaderKings 2'', characters can adopt a variety of historical heresies. They tend to be loathed by anyone from the main religion, and imprisoned and forced to convert back. Unless a very powerful king adopts the heresy, [[NotSoDifferent in which case the same thing typically happens to the orthodox faithful]].
** The ''Sons of Abraham'' expansion for the game gives heresies the ability to supplant their parent as the mainstream faith, reducing the old beliefs to being seen as heretical themselves in the process. The earlier ''Legacy of Rome'' expansion allowed the Great Schism to be mended by a sufficiently successful still-Orthodox Byzantium, reducing Catholicism to a heresy of Orthodoxy.
* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'', the Dissident Priests were heretics to the Tribunal Temple, disputing several points of dogma (though this appears to have been partly a response to being persecuted for questioning Temple ''policy'', which isn't exactly heresy even if the Temple called it that). The Tribunal Temple also persecutes the Nerevarine Cult as heretics (technically they are, just not really of the Temple, seeing as they developed in parallel in response to the same event and from the same source religion. It's actually the ''Temple'' who made the most radical changes of dogma, the Nerevarine Cult just explained away the new gods as false gods and added in a messiah figure). [[spoiler: Both of those change towards the end of the main quest, with the Dissident Priests acknowledged as having had a point with much of what they said and the Nerevarine Cult recognised as being right about the messiah figure thing, both by one of the gods of the Tribunal himself.]]
** Actually subverted in the case of the Nerevarine prophecy -- while the Temple considers it a folk superstition and persecutes the Ashlanders who believe it, when you actually show up and start fulfilling the prophecy, you get a letter from the local Archcanon. You see, they're not sure if you're a legitimate reincarnation of St. Nerevar ... so they're going to do their damnedest to try and kill you, as a sort of test. If you really are the Nerevarine, something so petty as a full inquisitorial process could hardly keep you from fulfilling your prophecies, now could it?
* In ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'', Karthus the Deathsinger joined the Order of the Tallymen of Kindred (a collection of gravediggers, pyre-builders, corpse collectors and carers for the dying who follow [[TheGrimReaper Kindred, the incarnation of death]]) and rose to become quite prominent in the order. Once he decided he could learn no more about death from mortals, he traveled to [[IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace the Shadow Isles]] and transformed himself into an immortal lich who trapped the souls of his victims in an undead state like himself, making him an abomination to Kindred, to whom unnatural prolonging of life beyond one's time is the greatest evil.
* In ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'', Elreon was banished for his heretical views, notably that thaumaturgy isn't inherently evil and Vol was an idiot for trying to destroy magic. The Templar player character is also derided as a heretic, though the nature of his heresy is vaguer.
* ''Franchise/DragonAge'': The Chantry serves as the dominant faith for most of Thedas, but it was actually established as an project of the Orlesian Empire to consolidate their power throughout the known setting and that many Andrastian cults preceded it. As such there is a huge list of schismatic groups that are branded heretical:

** The Blades of Hessarian are an cult that derive their name from the Tevinter that slayed Andraste and now follow his example by [[TheScourgeOfGod delivering judgment upon the weak and corrupt]]. The Chantry believes their supposed founder, an slave named Trefir who stole the sword used to kill her, likely never existed and is an pure fabrication.

** Several minor heresies were also mentioned in the backstory like the Empty Ones (a short lived cult that also believed the Darkspawn were a punishment from the Maker on mankind for killing Andraste and allowed themselves to be devoured by the horde) and the Daughters of Song (an hedonistic group whose [[NonIndicativeName male members also called themselves as "daughters"]] and focused on the carnal aspects of Andraste).

'''[[{{TabletopGame/WarHammer40000}} *BLAM*]]'''

->''"With regard to heretics two points must be observed: one, on their own side; the other, on the side of the Church. On their own side there is the sin, whereby they deserve not only to be separated from the Church by excommunication, but also to be severed from the world by death. "''

* ''Literature/TheNameOfTheRose'', by Creator/UmbertoEco, entirely revolves around the theme of the thin line between orthodoxy and heresy, and what happens when people cross it.
* Nicholas Harpole in ''[[Literature/TheCompanyNovels In The Garden of Iden]]''.
* Creator/DavidEddings' novels:
** In ''Literature/TheRedemptionOfAlthalus'', one of [[TheAtoner Althalus]]' major enemies is a "defrocked" priest.
** The recurring villain Martel in ''Literature/TheElenium'', a former [[ThePaladin Church Knight]] who turned to the worship of the [[GodOfEvil Dark God Azash]] and committed various atrocities since.
** Zedar the Apostate of ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', who started as one of Aldur's disciples and eventually switched sides and signed on with Torak.
* The Church in the ''Literature/{{Safehold}}'' series brands the entire nation of Charis as being heretics, mainly because they had the gall to survive the Church's attempts to obliterate them out of sheer paranoia. So far, despite having called down a holy war upon the Charisians, they have yet to learn that many of the leaders of Charis really ''are'' heretics, although the heresy they believe in (That the Archangels were not really divine messengers) is actually true.
* In the ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'' [[LightNovel/DisgaeaNovels novels]] we meet [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angel]] [[Characters/DisgaeaNovels Ozonne]] who propagates beliefs that go against [[FluffyCloudHeaven Celestia's]] official dogma and is considered to be a heretic, but she is not excommunicated for it because the [[BigGood big boss]] [[PhysicalGod Seraph Lamington]] want to let heretics run free.

* The Damned One is the history's greatest heretic in ''Literature/ArciaChronicles''. The twist in his case is that he is actually [[spoiler:St. Erasti, one of the most (if not ''the'' most) revered saints of TheChurch. This knowledge was so dangerous that TheChurch [[WrittenByTheWinners erased all connections]] between St. Erasti and the Damned One from history after his defeat]].

* Lots of this in the ''''Literature/TalesOfTheBranionRealm'''' series, which features a divine royal family whose monarch is a GodInHumanForm, the Vessel of the Living Flame.
** Book 1: [[RebelPrince A prince rebels]] against his mother, which given her status is both heresy and treason.
** Book 2: A Seer priest is part of a conspiracy to murder the Vessel, repents, and joins the Heir's protectors. The leader in charge of this RagtagBunchOfMisfits follows an entirely different faith, and his own God has ordered him to protect the Flame's Vessel -- possibly to ensure that its own followers are treated better in the Flame's country.
** Book 3: The Vessels themselves are heretics, having converted to a different religion and [[SealedInsideAPersonShapedCan trapping the Flame within their own bodies]]; the protagonists [[SaveYourDeity rescue It]] by [[StalkerWithATestTube seducing the Vessel]], having his firstborn son and raising him to kill his father -- also heresy, since this is like killing Jesus to free God from his human prison.
** Book 4: The protagonists are a heretic cult, trying to give the other three ElementalPowers their own avatars.
* High Priest Rheaesi in ''Literature/TheWillBeDone'' zig-zags it a bit; he's not ''technically'' a heretic, but the Church pretty much views him as such, and he gets [[PublicExecution executed]] in the end.

* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'': Jasnah Kholin, sister to the King of Alethkar, is an avowed atheist in a world where people have trouble even understanding the ''concept'' of not following the major religion. Her uncle Dalinar, who is himself staunchly religious, greatly respects her for being honest instead of pretending for the sake of appearances. Dalinar himself starts drifting into heresy by the third book as he discovers how far off the mark the Vorin faith's teachings are.

* In ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'', heretics can be found in the sixth circle of Hell. Their punishment is to lie in flaming tombs. The ones we see are there because they were Epicureans, which was considered heresy because Epicurus's deistic beliefs (he thought that the gods lived far off and paid no attention to mortal lives, and that [[CessationOfExistence the soul died with the body]]) contradicted major points of Christian doctrine.
* In the satirical poem ''Jobsiade'' (1784) by Carl Arnold Kortum, Jobs is examined on his theological knowledge, including the question what the Manichean heresy and their error was. Since his knowledge ends outside the pubs he regularly visits, Jobs' answers ("They thought I would pay them after all, but I managed to bilk them at the end!") are only ''secundum ordinem'' (english: epic fail).

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* The Resistance movement in the pilot of ''{{Series/Lexx}}'' were known as the Heretics against the Divine Order, with their leader Thodin being the Arch-Heretic.

Much like YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters in the political realm, those whom the Church labels "heretics" often claim that they're actually "reformers" or "purifiers". Christian theologian Irenaeus popularized the word heresy in the Christian world in his anti-UsefulNotes/{{Gnostic|ism}} tracts. Multiple heretics often form a {{Cult}}. Heresies are often named for their leader, e.g. Arianism, propagated by Arius. If these groups persist and grow, they can become "denominations" of a religion, e.g. Lutheranism, founded by Martin Luther. Even UsefulNotes/Islam was typically considered a heresy by the medieval church, whereas nowadays most people would say it is a separate religion.

Much like YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters in the political realm, those whom the Church labels "heretics" often claim that they're actually "reformers" or "purifiers". Christian theologian Irenaeus popularized the word heresy in the Christian world in his anti-UsefulNotes/{{Gnostic|ism}} tracts. Multiple heretics often form a {{Cult}}. Heresies are often named for their leader, e.g. Arianism, propagated by Arius. If these groups persist and grow, they can become "denominations" of a religion, e.g. Lutheranism, founded by Martin Luther.

'''Heresy [[MemeticMutation (blam)]]''' is derived from the word ''Heterodoxy'', a Greek word used to describe severe deviation from ''Orthodoxy'' or established religious doctrine aka {{Canon}}. Over time ''heterodoxia'' became ''haeresis'', meaning "to choose," so a heretic can be thought of as a person who chooses his own path.

** The Disciples of Andraste were an insular group that managed to steal her ashes after her body burned at the stake and safeguarded it in a temple located in the Frostback Mountains between the border of Orlais and Ferelden. After centuries, the group began to worship an High Dragon believing her to be Andraste reincarnated.

** The Inquistion from the [[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition game of same name]] is initially branded as an heretical organization by the Chantry at the start of the game for harboring the player character, who is accused of terrorism and murdering hundreds including the previous [[HighPriest Divine]], as well as propping him/her up as "Herald of Andraste". This can be particularly blasphemous if the Herald is an elf (since they worship other deities and are considered far removed from the Maker), a qunari (their race rejects religion entirely) or specially a mage (who are stigmatized in their religion). Despite their name, it's perfectly possible for the Inquisition to be an secular organization that also adopts several anti-Chantry philosophies as well. Fortunately for the them, the Chantry is in such [[HowTheMightyHaveFallen has-been state]] that they cannot persecute them or punish them for heresy - the best they can do is spread MaliciousSlander to deny any popular support to their enemies, and even that falls through when the Inquisition is recognized for being the only ones taking a stand against the eminent threat.

** The Order of the Fiery Promise is an ApocalypticCult who preaches that the world must be destroyed so it can be reborn as an new paradise. Though they were apparently destroyed in open combat during the Chantry's earliest days, they managed to survive and infiltrate their orders - specifically the Seekers of Truth. Considering their aims and persistence, they have very good reasons to be declared heretics.

** Several minor heresies were also mentioned in the backstory like the Empty Ones (a short lived cult that also believed the Darkspawn were a punishment from the Maker on mankind for killing Andraste and allowed themselves to be devoured by the horde) and the Daughters of Song (an hedonistic group whose [[NonIndictiveName male members also called themselves as "daughters"]] and focused on the carnal aspects of Andraste).

* ''Franchise/DragonAge'':
** The Imperial Chantry is the Tevinter Imperium's state religion that broke off from the main one located in Southern Thedas due to differing interpretations over the commandment of magic. The Chant of Light teaches that "magic should serve men, not rule over him", the Tevinters interpreted it as magic should serve the greater good and not control men's minds which caused an schism. They established their own Chantry with their own [[AlwaysMale male]] [[HighPriest Divine]] and clerics (the mainstream Chantry clergy is AlwaysFemale because they believe FemalesAreMoreInnocent), being more tolerant of magic and their own separate teachings like believing [[NoSuchThingAsWizardJesus Andraste to be an powerful mage]].
** The Inquistion from the [[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition game of same name]] is initially branded as an heretical organization by the Chantry at the start of the game for harboring the player character, who is accused of terrorism and murdering hundreds including the previous [[HighPriest Divine]], as well as propping him/her up as "Herald of Andraste". This can be particularly blasphemous if the Herald is an elf (since they worship other deities), a qunari (their race rejects religion entirely) or specially a mage (who are stigmatized in their religion). Despite their name, it's perfectly possible for the Inquisition to be an secular organization that also adopts several anti-Chantry philosophies as well. Fortunately for the them, the Chantry is in such [[HowTheMightyHaveFallen has-been state]] that they cannot persecute them or punish them for heresy - the best they can do is spread MaliciousSlander to deny any popular support to their enemies, and even that falls through when the Inquisition is recognized for being the only ones taking a stand against the eminent threat.

** The Imperial Chantry is the Tevinter Imperium's state religion that broke off from the main one located in Southern Thedas due to differing interpretations over the commandment of magic. The Chant of Light teaches that "magic should serve men, not rule over him", the Tevinters interpreted it as magic should serve the greater good and not control men's minds which caused an schism. They established their own Chantry with their own [[AlwaysMale male]] [[HighPriest Divine]] and clerics (the mainstream Chantry clergy is AlwaysFemale because they believe FemalesAreMoreInnocent), being more tolerant of magic and their own separate teachings like believing [[NoSuchThingAsAlienJesus Andraste to be an powerful mage]].
** The Inquistion from the [[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition game of same name]] is initially branded as an heretical organization by the Chantry at the start of the game for harboring the player character, who is accused of terrorism and murdering hundreds including the previous [[HighPriest Divine]], as well as propping him/her up as "Herald of Andraste". This can be particularly blasphemous if the Herald is an elf (since they worship other deities), a qunari (their race rejects religion entirely) or specially a mage (who are stigmatized in their religion). Fortunately for the Inquisition, the Chantry is in such [[HowTheMightyHaveFallen has-been state]] that they cannot persecute them or punish them for heresy - the best they can do is spread MaliciousSlander to deny any support to enemies.

* In the satirical poem ''Jobsiade'' (1784) by Carl Arnold Kortum, Jobs is examined on his theological knowledge, including the question what the Manichean heresy and their error was. Since his knowledge ends outside the pubs he regularly visits, Jobs' answers ("They thought I would pay them after all, but I managed to bilk them at the end!")are only ''secundum ordinem'' (english: epic fail).

* Creator/WilhelmBusch: In his "Jobsiade", Jobs is examined on his theological knowledge. Including the question what the Manichean heresy and their error was. Since his knowledge ends outside the pubs he regularly visits, his answers[[note]]"They thought I would pay them after all, but I managed to bilk them at the end!"[[/note]] are only ''secundum ordinem'' (english: epic fail).

** There are also heretics who deviate from the Imperium's ''other'' orthodoxy, the Cult Mechanicus. These "hereteks" usually start out as tech-priests who chafe under the Cult's strict restrictions on innovation and study of Xeno technology, and start experimenting with new designs and reverse-engineering captured alien tech, fully intending to better mankind through their work. This being [[CrapsackWorld 40k]], there's some ''very'' good reasons this things are forbidden, and most hereteks end up [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope taking a flying leap off the slippery slope]] sooner or later and going full over to Chaos, if they don't get themselves killed first. And if that wasn't enough, there's a very good chance they (unknowingly) ''are'' heretics- the Omnissiah is supposed to be an aspect of the GodEmperor, but it's strongly hinted that it's actually a C'tan CosmicHorror known as the Void Dragon, who has power over machines. So while the lower members of the Mechanicus are always happy to discover Necron tomb worlds and poke around until the Necrons wake up, the higher-ups know perfectly well what they're doing.

'''Heresy [[MemeticMutation (blam)]]''' is derived from the word ''Heterodoxy'', a Greek word used to describe severe deviation from ''Orthodoxy'' or established religious doctrine aka {{Canon}}.

The word "heretic" is from a Greek word meaning "to choose," so a heretic can be thought of as a person who chooses his own path. Much like YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters in the political realm, those whom the Church labels "heretics" often claim that they're actually "reformers" or "purifiers". Christian theologian Irenaeus popularized the word heresy in the Christian world in his anti-UsefulNotes/{{Gnostic|ism}} tracts. Multiple heretics often form a {{Cult}}. Heresies are often named for their leader, e.g. Arianism, propagated by Arius. If these groups persist and grow, they can become "denominations" of a religion, e.g. Lutheranism, founded by Martin Luther.