Legal Definitions - heresy

Heresy refers to a belief or opinion that goes against the officially accepted doctrines or teachings of a particular religion or religious institution.

While historically, particularly in some European societies, holding heretical views could be considered a serious crime punishable by secular law, today, heresy is primarily a matter of internal religious discipline. It is no longer subject to criminal prosecution by governments in most modern legal systems, but it can still lead to expulsion or excommunication from a religious community.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of heresy:

• Imagine a prominent theologian in the 15th century who begins to publicly teach that the Earth, not the Sun, is the center of the universe, directly contradicting the prevailing scientific and theological understanding supported by the dominant church at the time. If this theologian insisted on this view despite official warnings and condemnations, their stance would be considered heresy because it challenged an established doctrine of the church, which held a specific cosmological view as part of its broader theological framework.

• Consider a modern religious denomination that holds the literal interpretation of its sacred texts as a fundamental tenet. If a minister within this denomination starts publishing essays and giving sermons arguing that these texts are purely allegorical and should not be taken literally, and further suggests that certain core beliefs derived from these literal interpretations are incorrect, this minister's views could be deemed heresy by the denomination's leadership. This could lead to their removal from their position or even excommunication, as their teachings directly contradict the foundational doctrines of that specific religious group.

• Suppose a spiritual community is founded on the principle that all material possessions are an illusion and that true enlightenment comes from complete detachment from worldly goods. If a member of this community starts advocating for the accumulation of personal wealth and argues that prosperity is a sign of divine favor, their new doctrine would be considered heresy within that community. Their beliefs directly challenge the core, established principles and practices that define the group's spiritual path and purpose.