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While the term is often used to indicate any nonorthodox belief such as [[Paganism]], by definition heresy can only be committed by a person who considers himself a Christian, but rejects the teachings of the Christian Church. A person who completely renounces [[Introduction to Orthodox Christianity|Christianity]] is not considered a heretic, but an [[apostasy|apostate]]; a person who renounces the authority of the Church, but not its teachings, is a [[schism|schismatic]], while an individual outside of the Orthodox Church who considers himself to be Christian might be called [[Heterodox]].
Heretics usually do not define their own beliefs as heretical. Heresy is a value-judgment and the expression of a view from within an established belief system. For instance, Roman Catholics held Protestantism as a heresy while some non-Catholics considered Catholicism the "Great Apostasy."
==See also==
