The history of Christianity is also a history of heresies and consequently of the attitudes adopted by Christianity and the Church towards heresy, and so involves a history of the concept of heresy itself. In all religions that possess any kind of definite doctrine, that is, in all the higher religions, there are differences of opinion about that doctrine and as a consequence quarrels and conflict about it and about the socially organized forms in which the different religious views find expression. To that extent we might say that the concept of heresy is exemplified in all the more highly developed religions.
But caution is needed, nevertheless, for it is readily observed that religious wars are only found in Christendom. However much this assertion may call for qualification, and whatever more precise explanation is given, (for much that is involved may, of course, have little to do with Christianity itself), the assertion, though disputable, does draw attention to something. It is only in Christianity that a certain quite definite and very radical attitude to truth is found. This is the source of a quite specific view of heresy and that is why heresy is only really found there.
