The term has come to refer to any person who chooses not to conform to a set of beliefs or practices of a greater society.
If the issue is considered critical, such as loyalty to a nation or support for current laws, the non-conformist is often termed a "rebel" of a society and may be considered dangerous to maintaining social order. Unlike an anti-conformist, who chooses not to conform to society simply for the sake of not conforming (ironically resulting in the conformation of anti-conformists), non-conformists choose not to conform to society because they simply do not always agree with society.
The Protestant population of England during the latter half of the sixteenth century (1550-1600) had divided into three sects--the Conformists, the Puritans, and the Separatists or Brownists.
The Conformists claimed for their church more than human authority and for its earthly head supreme power in the State as well as in the Church.
The Puritans were in and of the established church but objected to many of the ceremonies, such as the ring in marriage, the sign of the cross in baptisms, showy vestments, receiving evil livers to the communion.
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