The Article 'Hunting Heresy' by former Catholic Nun, Mary Ann Collins (Copyright February 2002)provides an interesting insight into the history of Christian (Catholic)heresy.
I personally find it interesting because I see its modern day relevance to Religion, Politics and Academia.
There are many non-catholic religious groups today that constantly trawl for heretics within their ranks (those who don't toe the line), even as there are those within the realms of Politics and Academia who do the same. They are often referred to as the 'Thought Police (the masters of Politically Correct Truth).
Irrespective of the arena, those who disturb the 'Status Quo' or the 'intellectually righteous' are always deemed 'Heretics' and I don't doubt that the 'King's Calendar' might one day make someone's list of proscribed reading.
But it is the First Application to religion which holds the most concern for me,for it is one of the most insidious and sinister sides of modern so-called 'Bible Believing, Spirit Filled, God fearing, Jesus Loving' Protestant Christianity.
How well 'Grace and Forgiveness' are preached, and how little of it one actually sees.
I have often listened to stirring messages of 'Salvation by Faith in Jesus', and have noticed that in the end, the salvation offered is truly achieved through no more than Theological and Dogmatic obedience, which of course is at the heart of Mary Ann Collin's Article on 'Hunting Heresy'.
Of course this is not a new phenomenon, and not restricted to Religion. People who seek 'Power', whose prime motivation it is to protect their 'self-Interests', often resort to this type of Blackmail.
The Issue of Self-Interest is one that was raised in 'The Centuries of Darkness' by James Et. Al., in which it was pointed out that prejudice often outweighs 'facts' when academia feels threatened.
The 'King's Calendar' while not I think bringing anything specifically to Christianity, does provide great insight into the overall 'truthfulness' of Biblical Chronology, but this may be lost on those who may perceive a general repudiation of the more 'evangelical' theological belief in the Divine and Infallible Origin of the Bible.
Oh Well. As the Chinese are oft heard to say: "it is not important!"
I have often thought HOW heresy could originate; and I think I have found one prime way. This is true even of those who are Christians and believe in the Bible. The answer lies in one of Jesus' miracles: the healing of the blind man outside Jericho. While reading an article in Answers in Genesis, it mentioned how that there were TWO miracles performed by Jesus in healing this man: 1. The initial healing of his eyesight - seeing men as trees walking. An eye specialist, in the article, said how that when a person has been born blind or been so for a long time their MEMORY "forgets" what the objects look like - for the want of a better phrase. Therefore, his brain had no reference point for the light he was receiving; so he could NOT SEE what he was looking at. The power to "see" rests with the brain, not the eyes. 2. The second healing This is an even greater miracle, beause He imparted the KNOWLEDGE of what he was looking at. So, as stated above, he could then "see" what it was.
This shows that without the KNOWLEDGE of what we are seeing we CANNOT RECOGNISE IT. Further, as consequence, anyone who God gives "light" or revelation to, needs to also receive the understanding of what it is they are looking at; otherwise they will interpret it according to existing mindsets. Heresy can come about, therefore, because people can be given "light" but not RECOGNISE what it is they "see": it is perverted by their existing mindsets. Also, it shows how many, in the Churches, who have received revelations, with the understanding, but they who have followed them were not able to grasp what that person had "seen". So heresy developed there also. It shows why proverbs says not only to seek wisdom but the understanding to go with it. Why? Because you WILL corrupt it with YOUR OWN understanding, not God's. Good ol' humility again. See you next time.
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R .P. BenDedek
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Re: Modern Day Heresy & Inquisition
Posted on: 07/17/03 at 02:49:44 AEST
Very Interesting. You have given ME some understanding. Thank You.
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