The accusation of heresy is often used as a political weapon within the Imperium by those wishing to gain power over others. Massive divisions of the Adeptus Ministorum exist to monitor and study the myriad religious sects that exist across the Imperium and determine whether they have remained within the confines of orthodoxy. What does and does not count as heresy is generally determined by the high officers of the Ecclesiarchy. While those men and women who turn to the worship of forbidden gods such as the Ruinous Powers or alien overlords are the most obvious of Heretics, many other variant belief systems have been declared heretical throughout the ages. The worship of any god other than the Emperor is forbidden and those who overtly turn from the Imperial Creed are punished by death, as are those who deny the spiritual authority of the Adeptus Ministorum, the state church of the Imperium. The commission of heresy is often not merely the expression of an unconventional religious viewpoint, but the act of worshiping the Ruinous Powers of Chaos or aiding the forces of Chaos in attempting to subvert the rule of the Imperium of Man. Such individuals are simply rebels, Renegades or Traitors and, though their deeds may hide the taint of heresy, they are usually dealt with by more conventional forces. Thus all enemies of the Imperium can also be deemed 'Heretics.' Of course this is not always the case, as the Adeptus Ministorum seldom marks people as Heretics for trying to throw off the yoke of Imperial rule or killing an Imperial Guardsman. To take up arms against Him or His faithful agents is more than simple treason, it is heresy. Since the Imperial Cult serves as the state religion of the Human realm, the Emperor is not just the secular ruler of the Imperium of Man but also the one, true god of Mankind. In the Warhammer 40,000 universe, the act of heresy is an opinion, act or promulgation of an ideological doctrine that contradicts the beliefs, theology and the commandments of the Imperial Cult of the God-Emperor of Mankind and the laws of the Imperium of Man. And like so many of the titles bestowed by the followers of the Corpse-God, utterly meaningless.'Ī mob of Sanguinary Cultists on a rampage. ' Heresy: such a simple word for such a complex idea.

Heretic game wiki