Posted by john on April 09, 2002 at 06:31:31:
In Reply to: !elpoep lufituaeb ouy knahT posted by kat on April 08, 2002 at 12:24:19:
Well, I didn't really have anything to add to Bill's post. I usually think of it in the terms of the Fundamentalist movement as Bill suggested. Even though this doesn't really reflect the actual meaning of the word. Plus for anyone who doesn't know, Fundamentalists, in my book, aren't really evil per se, but this brand of Christianity tends to draw out all the would-be fascist, tell-me-what-to-think, intolerant, justify-my-agenda-as-a-Divine-calling types. Not to mention that many people i have met that ascribe to these ideas are just ignornant of the real facts, even those plainly stated in the Bible. This is because they choose not to think through things on their own, but just accept what sounds authoritative. You can most often spot these folks by looking for the person who HAS to argue a religious viewpoint you've heard on TV, but can't defend it against even the slightest intelligent questioning. If this is offensive to anyone, good. But of course I am not without fault. I just beleive we have a duty to search our own hearts and seek wise council on things, Christianity is not a political device.
: You guys are great, I guess I thought I knew what those words meant, but after I discussed something with someone I had questions as to whether or not I really understood(I did go to the dictionary, but I felt I needed a more thourough understanding). By the way john, you didn't say anything about FUNDAMENTALISM...
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: : : : : give an example of HERESY
: : : : a heresy is a departure from some part of Christian revelation without rejection of the whole. An example of this could be the Nestorian heresy which tried to separate from the Christian revelation the notion that Mary was the Mother of God. Although it was an attempt to protect the uniqueness of Christ, which Nestorians thought could be threatened by his mother, it actually distorted revealed truth since such a belief either dishonors motherhood or misunderstands who Christ was. In Nestorianism either Christ wasn't God, or Mary was not a true mother. Either is at best disrespectful, if not down right diabolical.
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: : : I agree with you here Bill, but have to make one note. Heresy ideally is what you say, but in actuality, does not necessarily have anything to do with revealed truth. Rather it has to do with acceptance of the dogma in power. Anyone who deviates from this is a heretic. Examples: Joan of Arc, John the Baptist, Jesus, Galileo, David, Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, all of the apostles, and just about every victim of the Inquisition and the Salem witch hunts, and many Christian martyrs, just to start a list.
: : I would qualify what you said in this way. I would say that heresy does have something to do with revealed truth to the degree that official teachings confirm and uphold revealed truth. By revealed truth I mean, things that God has revealed to be true. I know this stuff can get real sticky. I guess for me not all doctrines are revealed truth, but some can reflect it or confirm it.
: : later