Is Teaching People How to Evangelize Heresy?

[leandrosor]

No

[RabbiKnife]

Nice sales pitch.

[Fenris]

I'm sorry I missed whatever was there before that "no" was edited in.

[RabbiKnife]

I'm sorry I missed whatever was there before that "no" was edited in.

It was a backdoor sales pitch poorly described as a theology question pointing folks to the author's web page...

Don't be sorry... you didn't miss anything.

[Fenris]

How do we define "heresy"?

[RabbiKnife]

In historical orthodox Christian thought, "heresy" is a statement of theological doctrine about an essential tenet of the Christian faith that is rejected by a recognized Christian group.

Of course, that depends on what you consider "essential tenet," but generally, most heresies over the centuries have been related to doctrines related to the person and work of Jesus.

A disagreement over which translation to use or which form of baptism to follow is usually not considered heretical, for example -- although for some, the issue of baptism can get to that level if the particular group holds that baptism (in a certain form) is sacramental.

[Fenris]

Do Catholics/Orthodox/Protestants consider the others to be heretical, or just wrong in some lesser way?

[RabbiKnife]

Do Catholics/Orthodox/Protestants consider the others to be heretical, or just wrong in some lesser way?

Excellent question.  Sorry, I'll give you an attorney's answer... it depends.

seriously, i guess is would be on how specific the particular teaching or doctrine was.

In general though, most adherents to any of Catholicism/Orthodox/Protestant are so woefully ignorant of what their particular sect teaches that they would not have any idea of heresy if it spit in their face.  Most congregants know only a smattering of hearsay about what their particular church teaches or believes, and they spout it like a 3rd grader reciting the pledge of allegiance in 1953.

That being said, all three of those broad groups would disagree very strongly with the others' doctrines related to salvation and the role of the church, and would generally call the doctrines of the other groups to be heterdox at best, if not outright heresy.  The Orthodox didn't split from the RCC over trial matters, and the Reformation wasn't just over how to decorate the fellowship hall for a Sunday School picnic.

The primary fights are over (a) who was Jesus and what was/is His role in salvation and (b) what role does the church have in the life of an adherent.  Of course, tied to that is the role and power and authority of the clergy.

[Fenris]

Interesting. Thank you for the lengthy answer.

[Athanasius]

You guys talking about heresy and you didn't even invite me? Sheesh.

[Fenris]

Heresy away!

[Athanasius]

Heresy away!

Get ready for it:

*I exist*

[IMINXTC]

Heresy away!

Get ready for it:

*I exist*

"You think, therefore you are."

[Athanasius]

Heresy away!

Get ready for it:

*I exist*

"You think, therefore you are."

It speaks to that fine separation between heresy as a set of propositions, and the heretic who is the person that subscribes to some set of propositions deemed heretical. That person then becomes anathema to a given community, because inevitably, holding to whatever those propositions are will manifest in the way that person lives their life.

This becomes exceptionally not Christianity when what's considered heresy comes down to, "I heard you went to mass with your family last Sunday, you know they say Mary is equal to God don't you?" or, "I heard you trusted your doctors and went for chemotherapy, so why did you go up for Sunday morning prayer if you don't trust God"? or, "You don't need SSRIs, Jesus would have made you happy if you really believed".

So it's one thing to talk about heresy as almost an academic exercise -- "Oh you don't agree with Augustine? You must be one of those nasty Pelegians!" As we all know, it's another to sit in a pew while the congregation all turns right to spit in the direction of the Catholic church across the street. Never mind the "gossip line", or was that prayer? And maybe there are places where it's obviously not heretical to teach people how to evangelise. But they'd consider it heresy to teach people that Jesus didn't spit at people, or demand the destruction of families in service to Him, or hold a low view of doctors, or the people finding some way to live with the circumstances they find themselves in.

But I guess that's a sermon for a Sunday I'll likely never see.

[Fenris]

So it's one thing to talk about heresy as almost an academic exercise -- "Oh you don't agree with Augustine? You must be one of those nasty Pelegians!"

LOL what