Legal Definitions - heresy

Definition: Heresy is an opinion or belief that goes against the teachings of a particular religion, especially the Catholic Church. In England, it used to be an offense against religion where someone publicly denied some of the essential beliefs of Christianity, but it is no longer punishable by secular law.

• Claiming that Jesus was not the son of God is considered heresy in Christianity.
• During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church considered the belief in reincarnation to be heresy.
• John Wycliffe, an English theologian, was accused of heresy for his teachings on the Bible and the Church in the 14th century.

These examples illustrate how heresy is a belief or opinion that goes against the established teachings of a religion. In the case of John Wycliffe, his teachings were considered heretical because they challenged the authority of the Catholic Church.