Heretics I believe has only ONE mention in Scripture.
I believe a Scriptural “heretic” is trusting to believe, what man proclaims, OVER the Word of God.
More ‘modernly’ (for Centuries), the calling of an other “a heretic”, is more like, NOT agreeing with a “mans” long standing (doctrine and tradition) preaching and teaching.
We certainly are familiar, of “long standing” preaching, teaching, doctrine and traditions OF MEN, who grouped together, Calling “their meeting places” “Catholic Churches”, and Calling “themselves” “Catholics”.
* THEY ^ BTW, are also quite “partial” to the term “HERETIC”, and DO call men, in objection to “THEIR long standing, preaching, teaching, doctrines, traditions....Heretics”.
It is “suppose” to be derogatory and intimidating and shameful TO BE CALLED a “Heretic”.
However the FACT IS: A “Heretic”, is a person WHO “believed and followed along with a “particular” groups ... preaching, teaching, doctrines, traditions...
And THEN STOPPED.
Personally, I never Followed, preaching, teaching, doctrines, traditions OF a Group Calling themselves “Catholic”, or their meeting places, Called “CATHOLIC Churches”...
IF you did, then stopped, being called “a heretic”, simply is notification,
You have come to REJECT Catholic preaching, teaching, doctrines, traditions AS a viable means for you to accept.
IF you Never followed a Catholic preaching, teaching, doctrine, tradition...being CALLED a “heretic”, BY a Catholic, is a False accusation.