heretics
Those rejecting orthodoxy
Heretics are people who hold beliefs contrary to established doctrine, especially religious orthodoxy.
The word carries the perspective of whoever defines orthodoxy—one faith's heretic is another's prophet.
Historically, heretics faced severe punishment: The Inquisition burned heretics at the stake.
The term extends beyond religion to anyone who challenges accepted thinking: heretics in the scientific community, political heretics.
One who renounces faith
- infidelNonbeliever in another's creed
- blasphemerOne who insults deity
- unbelieverOne lacking faith
- paganNon-mainstream religion follower
heathen · schismatic · excommunicate · dissenter · sectarian · lapsed · backslider · idolater
Opponent of orthodoxy
- freethinkerRejects doctrine for reason
- skepticOne who doubts claims
- questionerOne who poses inquiries
- doubterOne who disbelieves
rationalist · iconoclast · critic · nonconformist · debunker · revisionist · contrarian · provocateur
Church tribunal against heretics
- burningCombustion in progress
- stakeSharpened post or share
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- tribunalJudicial decision-making body
execution · torture · auto-da-fé · condemnation · excommunication · imprisonment · accusation · denunciation
Seeking fundamental systemic change
- radicalRoot-indicating symbol
- subversiveSeeking to undermine authority
- insurgentOne who revolts
- renegadeDeserter of a cause
maverick · agitator · dissident · troublemaker · defiant · outcast · pariah · outsider
Departure from accepted belief
- apostasyRenunciation of former beliefs
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- dualismPhilosophy of opposed pairs
- GnosticismSalvation through hidden wisdom
Monophysitism · blasphemy · sacrilege · deviation · error
apostate
One who renounces faith
- infidelNonbeliever in another's creed
- blasphemerOne who insults deity
- unbelieverOne lacking faith
pagan · heathen · schismatic · excommunicate · dissenter · sectarian · lapsed · backslider · idolater · Manichaean
dissenter
Opponent of orthodoxy
- freethinkerRejects doctrine for reason
- skepticOne who doubts claims
- questionerOne who poses inquiries
doubter · rationalist · iconoclast · critic · nonconformist · debunker · revisionist · contrarian · provocateur · gadfly
Inquisition
Church tribunal against heretics
tribunal · execution · torture · auto-da-fé · condemnation · excommunication · imprisonment · accusation · denunciation · recantation
revolutionary
Seeking fundamental systemic change
- radicalRoot-indicating symbol
- subversiveSeeking to undermine authority
- insurgentOne who revolts
renegade · maverick · agitator · dissident · troublemaker · defiant · outcast · pariah · outsider · transgressor
unorthodoxy
Departure from accepted belief
- apostasyRenunciation of former beliefs
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- dualismPhilosophy of opposed pairs
Gnosticism · Monophysitism · blasphemy · sacrilege · deviation · error
- early churchapostles, early church, Church Fathers, apostolic fathers, Acts of the Apostles
- freethinkersfreethinker, freethinkers, secularists, rationalist, rationalists
- Sectariansfundamentalists, Puritans, Amish, Gnostics, Huguenots
- Nonconformistsnonconformist, rebels, rebel, misfits, misfit
- heresyapostasy, apostate, blasphemy, unorthodoxy, sectarianism
- Iconoclastsfreethinkers, dissidents, mavericks, radicals, contrarians
hereticstrue believers
Unwavering adherents to doctrine
conformists · believers · adherents · traditionalists · dogmatists
hereticssaints
Canonized religious figures
church fathers · clergy · prelates · bishops · inquisitors