Heresy
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'''Heresy''' refers to aberration from a (typically religious) orthodox [[Dogma|system of beliefs]], while still making a claim to hold said orthodox beliefs. It is distinct from [[atheism]], the lack of religious beliefs, and [[apostasy]], renouncing one's religious or political belief system altogether. Today, the word ''heterodoxy'' is the preferred term among people who wish to appear more erudite and/or less provocative. | '''Heresy''' refers to aberration from a (typically religious) orthodox [[Dogma|system of beliefs]], while still making a claim to hold said orthodox beliefs. It is distinct from [[atheism]], the lack of religious beliefs, and [[apostasy]], renouncing one's religious or political belief system altogether. Today, the word ''heterodoxy'' is the preferred term among people who wish to appear more erudite and/or less provocative. | ||
Revision as of 14:14, 5 November 2010
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Heresy refers to aberration from a (typically religious) orthodox system of beliefs, while still making a claim to hold said orthodox beliefs. It is distinct from atheism, the lack of religious beliefs, and apostasy, renouncing one's religious or political belief system altogether. Today, the word heterodoxy is the preferred term among people who wish to appear more erudite and/or less provocative.
Contents |
History
A heretic is a person who preaches heresy and/or accepts heresy as fact, and a heresiarch is a leading heretic or even the originator of the heresy. It is usually - though not always - used in a religious sense. Frequently the difference of opinion or interpretation may seem insignificant to outsiders - but be a matter of life and death to those heretics involved.
To be a heretic, one must claim that their beliefs are orthodox. If one is simply "deviant," or "deviates" by openly disregarding the orthodoxy, one is not a heretic, but a blasphemer or just an out-and-out unbeliever. Creationists do not call Stephen Jay Gould's theories of a godless universe running on automatic heresy. But when Martin Luther tried to add words to his new improved bible version like "faith alone" that were never there in the original Greek, just because he thought they ought to be there, that made him a heretic.
Catharism was one of the earliest well-known heretical sects. The Roman Catholic Church established the Inquisition in 1229 to root out the Cathars. After executing the last Cathar in 1321, the Catholic Church continued the Inquisition for several centuries to suppress all perceived heresies. One of the most famous persecutions by the Inquisition occurred in 1633 when Galileo Galilei was forced to recant his assertion that the solar system is heliocentric, and not geocentric.
On 11 July 2007, Pope Benedict XVI stated[1] that all non-Catholic churches are "ecclesial communities." The members of these "ecclesial communities" have little doubt that the pope really called them all a bunch of heretics. (The pope later backpedaled a bit on his statement).[2]
Oddly enough, not all religious sects view each other as heretical. Presbyterians and Congregationalists are less likely to view each other as heretics, since they share essentially the same theology (Calvinism) while simply practicing a different sort of church polity. However, Presbyterians and Congregationalists are much more likely to view Catholics, Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses as heretics.
Some religious groups considered heretical by other religious groups
- Protestants (by the Catholic Church)
- Catholics (by most Protestant churches)
- Mormons (by Catholic and Protestant churches)
- Jehovah's Witnesses (ditto)
- Sunni Muslims (by Shiite Muslims)
- Shiite Muslims (by Sunni Muslims)
- Sufi Muslims (by Sunni and Shiite Muslims)
- Non-Orthodox Jews (by some sects of Orthodox Judaism)
The siege of Béziers
An often repeated story of Christian treatment of heretics occurred during the siege of the southern French city of Béziers during the Albigensian Crusade in 1209.
- "A German monk repeated a story that Arnald-Amaury (a Papal legate) , when asked in the middle of the slaughter how the Catholics could be distinguished from the heretics replied, "Kill them all, God will recognize his own." [3]
Clarification
Illustration of heresy
The story below is often told to illustrate heresy:
- I was walking across a bridge one day and I saw a man standing on a ledge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said, "Stop! Don't do it!"
- "Why shouldn't I?" he asked.
- "Well, there's so much to live for." "Like what?"
- "Well, are you religious?" He said yes. I said, "Me too!"
- "Are you Christian or Buddhist?" "Christian." "Me too!"
- "Are you Catholic or Protestant?" "Protestant." "Me too!"
- "Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?" "Baptist." "Wow, me too!
- "Are you Baptist Church of God or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?" "Reformed Baptist Church of God." "Hey,me too!"
- "Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1789 or Reformed Baptist Church of God, 1915?"
- "He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915." "Me too."
- "Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915, Western Congregation, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915, Eastern Congregation?"
- "He said: "Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915, Eastern Congregation."
- "I said, "Die, heretic scum!!" And pushed him off the bridge.[4]
A more violent illustration
Another reference to heresy was made by George Carlin, during one of his sermons:
- "Do you believe in God?"
- "No."
- "BLAM!" *Mimes a gunshot* "Now, do you believe in God?"
- "Yes"
- "Do you believe in MY God?"
- "No."
- "BLAM!" *Mimes a gunshot* "My God has a bigger dick than your God!"[5]
Political heresy
As in religion, there can be heresy in politics. At least in the views of certain right-wingers and, indeed, some leftists. The story above, regarding someone being perfectly acceptable until one final detail emerges, is certainly common.[6] In late 2009, the Republican Party put forward a checklist, and anyone found deviating on more than two principles was to be denied party campaign funding.[7] On the other hand, however, political "deviationism," being identified as "anti-party," or being a "capitalist-roader" has also been severely punished in Communist countries, usually by punishments far more draconian.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Cf. the documents "Responses to Some Questions" and "Commentary" from the Congregation on the Doctrine of the Faith.
- ↑ "Will the Pope's Pronouncement Set Ecumenism Back a Hundred Years?" Progressivetheology.org website, 11 July 2007. [1]
- ↑ Sumption, Jonathan, The Albigensian Crusade, Faber and Faber, London 1999, p.93
- ↑ We recognize this as being basically similar to an old Emo Philips riff, although it might not be original to him.
- ↑ I know I screwed the pooch on this one, but I think it demonstrates the heresy point well.
- ↑ http://www.conservapedia.com/User_talk:Aschlafly#Don.27t_call_me_a_liberal
- ↑ http://www.kentucky.com/2009/11/24/1032575/conservatives-propose-gop-checklist.html