Final answer:
Heresy refers to religious choices that go against mainstream beliefs and practices. It has been a recurring theme, causing schisms and conflicts within religious communities throughout history.
Step-by-step explanation:
Heresy is a religious choice that is unacceptable to the mainstream. It refers to beliefs and practices that deviate from the official teachings of a particular belief system. In Christianity, for example, heresy was considered as going against the accepted doctrines of the church. Early Christian sects like the Arians and Donatists were labeled as heretics because they held beliefs that differed from the mainstream. Religious heresy has been a recurring theme throughout history, sometimes leading to schisms and conflicts within religious communities.