Heresy and Heretics
From RationalWiki
Heresy is either a doctrine that is in opposition to an official doctrine, or the act of preaching such doctrine.
A heretic is a person who preaches heresy and/or accepts heresy as fact.
"Heresy" and "heretic" are generally used in a religious context. However, they are also used in non-religious venues where deeply held beliefs are common.
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 occured 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. Baptists and Methodists are less likely to view each other as heretics. However, Baptists and Methodists are much more likely to view Catholics, Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses as heretics.
[edit] 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)
[edit] 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]
