what exactly is a heretic?

Question

is it just someone who doesnt believe in the major religion in that area, or is it an atheist or satanist? how do you define it?

whats up with fatherbobmarley? anger management, dude.

Answer 1

someone that doesnt believe that god exists. there are some heretics that do believe, but dont believe that he created all and every detail, and yet others believe that he did create everything but then retired and let the world run by itself. ps which category to you fall in lol ?

Answer 2

In christian terms, anyone in the church who doesn't hold to the essentials of the christian faith and who inevitably will be cast out of the church.

Generally speaking, this is true of anyone in any organisation, let alone religion, who holds to different essential beliefs to the organisation and inevitably will be outcast.

Protestants were burned at the stake at the Reformation as heretics to the church of the time (and who are regarded today by protestants as true christians).

Now that is heresy a la classique. Sometimes though people are called heretics for holding to views on non-essential teachings, or even issues that are controversial rather than on essentials. Things like homosexuality, women preachers, etc. can cause divisions and some would label some of these people heretics, which isn't technically true but practically speaking it is.

The term is usually and traditionally applied to christianity, and also to other religions, though not really to organisations outside the religious or spiritual.

Now apostate is another term, and usually refers to someone who was of the church but who has turned away from the faith altogether. Some athiests seem to fall in this category as well as some satanists, just those who once professed a faith but turned from it.

Answer 3

A heretic is one who believes, holds to, or most especially, teaches as truth, a concept contrary to the dogmas of faith. For instance: In the Catholic Faith, if you were to believe that Jesus Christ was only a man and not also God, you would be a heretic. If you were to teach this you would be promoting a dangerous heresy. Dangerous because anyone who fell for it and believed it would be in danger of eternal Hell fire.
P.S. An atheist is one who believes there is no God. A Satanist is one who worships Satan.

Answer 4

Traditionally, a heretic is someone who holds a view which is contrary to a core-value or a basic doctrine within a religion which they profess to be a part of. Within Christianity you are not a heretic if you believe in post or pre-tribulation, as these are not major issues. If you disagree that Jesus is God, then you believe contrary to a necessary and core doctrine of Christianity, and they you will be labeled a heretic.

Answer 5

Heretic is defined as a person about to be executed by the Catholic church or Church of England.

Fortunately, the US was founded as an atheist (secular) nation, so the practice was severely curtailed.

Now the word has no real meaning, most people seem to use it as a curse word to substitute for other profanities.

Answer 6

A heretic is someone who believes the opposite of the mainstream culture. It's usually used when someone opposes Christianity.

Answer 7

Heretic, meaning literally a person guilty or accused of heresy, is also often used as a title. It is a name, typically used to disparage or malign, attributed to those people who "choose" to present or hold ideas which are contrary to popular opinion, traditional or mainstream thought or orthodoxy, belief, and/or the status quo of any practice or branch of knowledge.

Answer 8

A heretic is someone who does denies a doctrine of the Catholic Church. A heretic cannot obtain Heaven unless he repents for his error.

Answer 9

I would say it's defined as a person who makes a statement or holds a belief that the principles of the accusing religion are false.

Answer 10

A heretic labeled as such by the religion itself because he/she does not believe the teachings of said religion.