The Great Heresies

CERC ^

[NYer]

A Sunday evening ‘refresher’ course ping!

[Tax-chick]

Pat knows them all, and he’ll tell you about them with Greek translations. Riveting dinner-table conversation, right up there with Bill’s food-safety lectures.

[eleni121]

Good starter list....not sure why Islam is not included on this Roman Catholic list. Most Christians I know consider it a heresy, esp given its origins.

[GAB-1955]

What the author refers to as “private judgment” among Protestants is an explicit rejection of the position of the Catholic church. The number of Protestant denominations may be seen by Catholics as a mark of contradiction, but it is our strength. When you remove many of the differences in practice, there is remarkable harmony between Protestant denominations about the role of Scripture, faith, and of Christ.

Protestantism has survived the test of time for good reasons; it too, is based on the Rock, Jesus.

[irishtenor]

So, call me a heretic. I still believe in the one true God.

[Salvation]

Great list. Here are some more:

The Great Heresies

John Calvin’s Worst Heresy: That Christ Suffered in Hell
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Succumbs to Heresy
The Bishop Discovers Heresy?
From Orthodox to Heresy: The Secularizing of Catholic Universities
Progressivism/Liberalism is Heresy [Excellent read & reference]

Is heresy better than schism? [Ecumenical]
Modernism: The Modernist Heresy
THE GREAT HERESIES-THE MODERN PHASE
The Protestant Heresy
The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene

Americanism, Then and Now: Our Pet Heresy (encyclical of Pope Leo XIII)
Heresies then and now: ancient Christian heresies practiced in modern times
The Plain Truth About The Baptist Bride Heresy
Balthasar, Hell, and Heresy: An Exchange (is it compatable with the Catholic faith?)
Heresies then and now: ancient Christian heresies practiced in modern times

Know Your Heresies
The Rev. John Piper: an interesting look at "heresy vs. schism"
Pietism as an Ecclesiological Heresy
Heresy
Arian Heresy Still Tempts, Says Cardinal Bertone (Mentions Pelagianism As Well)

Catholic Discussion] Church group stays faithful (to heresy!)
An overview of modern anti-Trinitarian heresies
Where heresy and dissent abound [Minnesota]
Gnostic Gospels - the heresy entitled "Gnosticism."
Christian mavericks find affirmation in ancient heresies

The So-Called ‘Gospel’ of Judas: Unmasking an Ancient Heresy
Benedict XVI Heresies and Errors
Donatism (Know your heresies)
The Heresy of Mohammed (Chapter 4, The Great Heresies)
Father & Son Catholic Writers Tag-Team Old & New Heresies

[Colofornian]

Since this author is portraying Protestants as heretics & false teachers, I think the advisory board of the group making this portrayal ought to be alerted. Why? Well advisory board members like Michael J. Behe, J. Budziszewski, Dinesh D'Souza, Robert George, James Hitchcock, Peter Kreeft, Rabbi Daniel Lapin, Paul Vitz, and Christopher Wolfe all probably have as many if not more Protestant readers than RC ones...

(And if they are in agreement about broadbrushing Protestants as "heretics" & "false teachers" -- then may I recommend Protestant reconsider purchasing books authored by the above?)

I think there are some Protestants who indeed have introduced some false teachings. That's not the issue with the way this article is written. The author has lumped all Protestants with all heretical groups.

I think it's time for FREEPERS to e-mail these authors above & let them know either (a) they don't appreciate their association with this group; and/or (b) unless they remove that association, their books will be boycotted.

Robert George & Budziszewski, I'm sure, have been interviewed on plenty of Protestant-based radio programming. Perhaps it's time for that to change!

[annalex]

The heresies common to virtually all Protestants are the so called sola scriptura and sola fide. The article explains that. There are many other heresies that some Protestant sects hold, and some don’t, not worth discussing here piecemeal.

[annalex]

Islam is simply a false religion, like many others. Only a baptized Christian may be a heretic.

[NYer]

not sure why Islam is not included on this Roman Catholic list. Most Christians I know consider it a heresy, esp given its origins.

Excellent point. Indeed Islam is a heresy.

[NYer]

The number of Protestant denominations may be seen by Catholics as a mark of contradiction, but it is our strength.

On the contrary. Can there be more than one interpretation of the Bible? No. The word "truth" is used several times in the New Testament. However, the plural version of the word "truth" never appears in Scripture. Therefore, there can only be one Truth. So how can there be over 20,000 non-Catholic Christian denominations all claiming to have the "Truth"?

[NYer]

I think there are some Protestants who indeed have introduced some false teachings. That's not the issue with the way this article is written. The author has lumped all Protestants with all heretical groups.

See my post #12.

[Iscool]

But you left out the greatest heretic of them all...The Catholic church which calls itself the one true church that Jesus founded...

And then this:

Finally, the doubt or denial involved in heresy must concern a matter that has been revealed by God and solemnly defined by the Church (for example, the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the sacrifice of the Mass, the pope's infallibility, or the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Mary).

You apparently chose to believe that the God of the Bible has revealed some sort of extra Biblical truth to your popes even tho many were drunks, committed fornication, bore kids out of wedlock, were homosexuals and child molesters, passed on the position to family, and even sold the position of the head of the magisterium to others, and killed each other for the title...

And God revealed to these insults to Christianity that theirs was the one, true religion, that they, themselves were infallible and that Mary had an immaculate conception, etc., etc...

The heretics you describe are mild to laughable compared to the heresy of the Catholic religion...

[GAB-1955]

How did those Orthodox and Copts get here? How many rites in the Catholic Church? There’s less orthopraxy than you think.

[NYer]

How many rites in the Catholic Church?

Although it is not widely known in our Western world, the Catholic Church is actually a communion of Churches. According to the Constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, the Catholic Church is understood to be "a corporate body of Churches," united with the Pope of Rome, who serves as the guardian of unity (LG, no. 23). At present there are 22 Churches that comprise the Catholic Church. The new Code of Canon Law, promulgated by Pope John Paul II, uses the phrase "autonomous ritual Churches" to describe these various Churches (canon 112). Each Church has its own hierarchy, spirituality, and theological perspective. Because of the particularities of history, there is only one Western Catholic Church, while there are 21 Eastern Catholic Churches. The Western Church, known officially as the Latin Church, is the largest of the Catholic Churches. It is immediately subject to the Roman Pontiff as Patriarch of the West. The Eastern Catholic Churches are each led by a Patriarch, Major Archbishop, or Metropolitan, who governs their Church together with a synod of bishops. Through the Congregation for Oriental Churches, the Roman Pontiff works to assure the health and well-being of the Eastern Catholic Churches.

While this diversity within the one Catholic Church can appear confusing at first, it in no way compromises the Church's unity. In a certain sense, it is a reflection of the mystery of the Trinity. Just as God is three Persons, yet one God, so the Church is 22 Churches, yet one Church.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes this nicely:

"From the beginning, this one Church has been marked by a great diversity which comes from both the variety of God's gifts and the diversity of those who receive them... Holding a rightful place in the communion of the Church there are also particular Churches that retain their own traditions. The great richness of such diversity is not opposed to the Church's unity" (CCC no. 814).

Although there are 22 Churches, there are only eight "Rites" that are used among them. A Rite is a "liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary patrimony," (Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 28). "Rite" best refers to the liturgical and disciplinary traditions used in celebrating the sacraments. Many Eastern Catholic Churches use the same Rite, although they are distinct autonomous Churches. For example, the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Melkite Catholic Church are distinct Churches with their own hierarchies. Yet they both use the Byzantine Rite.

To learn more about the "two lungs" of the Catholic Church, visit this link:

CATHOLIC RITES AND CHURCHES

The Vatican II Council declared that "all should realize it is of supreme importance to understand, venerate, preserve, and foster the exceedingly rich liturgical and spiritual heritage of the Eastern churches, in order faithfully to preserve the fullness of Christian tradition" (Unitatis Redintegrato, 15).

A Roman rite Catholic may attend any Eastern Catholic Liturgy and fulfill his or her obligations at any Eastern Catholic Parish. A Roman rite Catholic may join any Eastern Catholic Parish and receive any sacrament from an Eastern Catholic priest, since all belong to the Catholic Church as a whole. I am a Roman Catholic practicing my faith at a Maronite Catholic Church. Like the Chaldeans, the Maronites retain Aramaic for the Consecration. It is as close as one comes to being at the Last Supper.

[redgolum]

Interesting about the rites.

Didn't you post a few articles about the absolute need for clerical celibacy a few weeks ago? How many rites beside the Latin right are forbidden to have married priests?

[CTrent1564]

redgolum:

None are, since all of them are Eastern Sui Juris Catholic Churches and those would fall under the Codes of Canon Law for the Eastern Catholic Church. There may some restrictions on Married Catholic Priests in areas that are overwhelmingly Roman/Latin Rite, but in their own jurisdictions they do have a married clergy.

[Colofornian]

The heresies common to virtually all Protestants are the so called sola scriptura and sola fide.

Let's deal with sola fide -- first -- the Romans & Galatians epistle revelation that defeated the idea that self-justification was justifiable.

Excerpt from http://www.eefweb.org/sermons/topical/The%20Five%20Solas%20of%20the%20Reformation/Part%204%20-%20Sola%20Fide.htm:

The Catholic position in opposition to Luther’s Sola Fide was that the grace of God, by His good pleasure was poured into us. As this pouring or infusing occurred, it made us righteous and thus able to perform good works. Our free will cooperating with the grace then performed the works and together made us fit for salvation. It was taught that only by our will cooperating with grace and producing good works was the sinner able to merit salvation. Therefore, grace was infused and we cooperate with it to produce good works that belong to us. Those good works improve with time until they are such that we have pleased God enough to grant us salvation. Justification to the Catholic mind was then a process, not an event by declaration. Perhaps nowhere can the Roman Church’s rebellion against this doctrine be found any stronger than in the 1563 Council of Trent canons. We have already seen the authority of scripture, the lone Priestly role of Christ as Mediator and Redeemer. We have also seen that the way of salvation exists only because of the inestimable grace of God. Salvation would not exist had God in His mercy not provided a means for atonement and propitiation of His wrath. In evaluating Sola Fide, we shall see that the righteousness that the justified sinner stands in is not the works which by performing he has merited grace. Rather we will see that the only efficacious righteousness that will save us is being clothed with the righteousness of another—the righteousness of Christ imputed to us.

Of course, the Catholic position is the Scripturally off-base posture of synergism.

My Q to you: If you can't even confess "Jesus is Lord" in a culture of persecution, minus the Holy Spirit's power, how can you take credit for any other good work He does in and through you? (And why would you want to even try -- given the Scriptural reality that we're to glorify God in ALL that we do?)

[Campion]

Robert George & Budziszewski, I'm sure, have been interviewed on plenty of Protestant-based radio programming. Perhaps it's time for that to change!

I don't really understand the point of your objection.

Obviously the Catholic Church thinks Protestants are in an objective state of heresy (although the term "heretic" is usually reserved for a Catholic who departs from the faith to found a new sect), and Protestants* think Catholics are in an objective state of heresy.

*(Most, all, some: you pick)

That's not picking a fight or being nasty; it's just being clear and concise about doctrinal points.

Obviously -- to pick one example -- the Blessed Virgin Mary cannot both be immaculately conceived and not immaculately conceived at the same time, so somebody is a "false teacher" on that particular subject. And the list of such subjects is unfortunately a rather long one.

Most of those men you mention are Catholic (although I'm not entirely clear why Rabbi Daniel Lapin made your list). If Protestants want to listen to them, they are free to do so; if they don't, they're free not to. Presumably they listen to them because they have something to say (and a skillful way of saying it) with which those Protestants agree or from which they learn.