Grace Thompson
Heresy is a concept that has been a concern in Christian communities since the writing of the Second Epistle of Peter. The term carries an emotional charge and is often misused or misunderstood. The Catholic Church defines heresy as the obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after the reception of baptism of some truth which is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith. The Church distinguishes between formal and material heresy, with the former being a sin and the latter not. Formal heresy is when an individual is aware that their belief contradicts Catholic teaching but continues to hold it anyway, whereas material heresy is when an individual holds a belief that contradicts Church teaching but does so in good faith, without knowing that it is heretical. To be a heretic, one must also refuse correction and deny or doubt a matter that has been revealed by God and defined by the Church, such as the Trinity, the Incarnation, or the divinity of Christ.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of heresy | The denial of revealed truth as taught by the Church |
| Who is a heretic? | A baptized person who refuses correction and obstinately denies or doubts a truth taught by the Catholic Church as revealed by God |
| Types of heresy | Formal, material, manifest, occult, public, private |
| Heresy vs. schism | Heresy is the denial of truth, schism is the refusal of submission to the Church |
| Heresy vs. apostasy | Heresy is the denial of truth, apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith |
| Heresy vs. incredulity | Heresy is the denial of truth, incredulity is the neglect of revealed truth or refusal to assent to it |
| Example of ancient heresy | Arianism, the denial of the divinity of Jesus Christ and the Trinity |
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What You'll Learn
Understanding the definition of heresy
The term "heresy" is emotionally loaded and often misused. In the context of the Catholic Church, it carries a very specific meaning. Heresy is defined as the "obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after the reception of baptism of some truth which is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith". In other words, to commit heresy, one must refuse to be corrected and deny or question a truth taught by the Catholic Church as revealed by God, even after having been baptised.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church differentiates between "incredulity" and "heresy", stating that the former is the "neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it", while the latter is the "obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same". Thus, heresy specifically refers to the denial or doubt of truths considered fundamental in the Catholic faith, such as the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the pope's infallibility, and the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Mary.
The concept of heresy has been a concern in Christian communities since the early Church, as referenced in the Second Epistle of Peter: "Even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them" (2 Peter 2:1). Over time, various movements and denominations have been declared heretical by the Catholic Church, including Gnosticism, Arianism, and Pelagianism.
It is important to note that, according to Catholic doctrine, there are different types and degrees of heresy. For instance, the distinction between material heresy and formal heresy is significant. Material heresy refers to an opinion that objectively contradicts the teachings of the Church, but the person holding it may not be aware that their belief is heretical and may be acting in good faith. On the other hand, formal heresy involves a person knowingly and willingly clinging to a belief that contradicts Catholic doctrine, even when they are aware of its contradiction. This distinction underscores the importance of intent and understanding in determining the severity of heresy.
Furthermore, the Catholic Church distinguishes between manifest, occult, public, and private heretics. A manifest heretic's doubt or error in faith is apparent and cannot be hidden, while an occult heretic's doubt or error remains hidden. A public heretic openly adheres to a heretical sect, while a private heretic may hold heretical beliefs but does not openly associate with a heretical group. These distinctions within the broader concept of heresy demonstrate the nuanced approach taken by the Catholic Church in understanding and responding to divergent beliefs and doctrines.
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The distinction between formal and material heresy
Heresy is an emotionally loaded term that is often misused. It is not the same thing as incredulity, schism, apostasy, or other sins against faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines incredulity as "the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it". Heresy, on the other hand, is defined as the ""obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith" or "obstinate doubt concerning the same".
The Catholic Church teaches that its doctrines are the authoritative understandings of the Faith taught by Jesus Christ and that the Holy Ghost prevents the Church from falling into error when teaching these doctrines. Thus, to deny one or more of those doctrines is to deny the faith of Christ entirely. Heresy is both the non-orthodox belief itself and the act of holding that belief.
An important distinction is that between formal and material heresy. Formal heresy occurs when an individual knowingly holds an opinion that is destructive of the virtue of the Christian faith, disturbs unity, and challenges the Divine authority of the Church. In other words, it strikes at the very source of faith. Material heresy, on the other hand, occurs when an individual is unaware that their opinion denies some truth that is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith. The opinion of a material heretic may produce the same objective results as formal heresy, but because of their ignorance, they commit no sin by holding it.
The Catholic Church makes several distinctions as to the seriousness of an individual heterodoxy and its closeness to true heresy. Only a belief that directly contravenes an Article of Faith or that has been explicitly rejected by the Church is labelled as actual "heresy". A belief that the Church has not directly rejected or that is at variance with less important Church teachings is given the label "sententia haeresi proxima", meaning "opinion approaching heresy". A theological argument, belief, or theory that does not constitute heresy in itself but which leads to conclusions that might be held to do so is termed "propositio theologice erronea" or "erroneous theological proposition". Finally, if the theological position only suggests but does not necessarily lead to a doctrinal conflict, it might be given the milder label of "sententia de haeresi suspecta, haeresim sapiens", meaning "opinion suspected, or savouring, of heresy".
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Arianism and its variants
Arianism, a Christological doctrine attributed to Arius (c. AD 256–336), a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, holds that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, begotten by God the Father, but with the key difference that the Son of God did not always exist alongside the Father but was instead begotten before time. Therefore, Jesus was not coeternal with God the Father but began to exist outside of time. Arianism is considered a form of Unitarian theology, emphasising God's unity and rejecting the traditional notion of the Holy Trinity—the doctrine that three distinct persons are united in one Godhead. Arianism holds that the Son is distinct from and subordinate to the Father.
Arius's teachings were opposed to the theological doctrines held by Homoousian Christians, who affirmed the belief that Jesus was "same in being" or "same in essence" with God the Father. Arius disagreed, stating: "If the Father begat the Son, then he who was begotten had a beginning in existence, and from this it follows there was a time when the Son was not." Arianism had several variants, including Eunomianism, Homoian Arianism, and Semi-Arianism. Homoiousian and Anomoeanism, two nontrinitarian theological systems of the 4th century, are also considered variants of Arianism.
Arianism was solemnly condemned in 325 at the First Council of Nicaea, which defined the divinity of Christ, and in 381 at the First Council of Constantinople, which defined the divinity of the Holy Spirit. These two councils resulted in the Nicene creed, which Catholics recite at Mass every Sunday.
To respond to Arianism and its variants, Catholics can refer to the Nicene Creed, which affirms the divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit, and upholds the orthodox teaching concerning the Trinity: that God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all one being with three hypostases. Additionally, the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines heresy as "the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith". According to this definition, one must be baptised and refuse correction to commit heresy.
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Gnosticism and its history
Gnosticism is a collection of religious ideas and systems that emerged in the late 1st century AD among early Christian sects. The term is derived from the Greek word "gnosis", meaning "knowledge". Gnostics viewed themselves as "those who know", possessing a superior understanding of spiritual matters that set them apart from those who lacked such knowledge.
Gnostic beliefs varied, but some common tenets include: the flawed nature of the material world, the superiority of the spiritual realm, the existence of a divine spark trapped within humans, and the idea that salvation comes through secret knowledge or "gnosis". Gnostics often interpreted Christian concepts in ways that diverged from orthodox teachings, such as claiming that Christ only appeared to have a human body or that he did not truly die on the cross.
The history of Gnosticism is complex and influenced by various religious traditions. Some scholars argue that Gnosticism predated Christianity and was later incorporated into it, while others believe it emerged as a Christian heresy. Gnosticism was prevalent in the first few centuries of the Christian era, with the founder of "Christian" Gnosticism being Valentinus, a poet and almost-Bishop of Rome. Gnostic literature and writings were extensive, though many were lost or destroyed.
Gnosticism was seen as a threat to the early Church Fathers, who worked to eradicate it. It resurfaced in the western world and is still found today in places like Iraq, Iran, and diaspora communities, with modern Gnostic ecclesiastical bodies being established or re-founded.
Within contemporary Catholicism, there is a discussion about a new form of Gnosticism, referred to as "neo-Gnosticism". This term is used to describe Catholics who allegedly believe in their superiority due to their strict adherence to "lifeless" doctrines and a rigid moral code.
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The Circumcision heresy
However, this belief was refuted by God, who made it clear to Peter in Acts 10 that Gentiles are acceptable to Him and may be baptised and become Christians without circumcision. The same teaching was defended by Paul in his epistles to the Romans and the Galatians—in areas where the Circumcision heresy had spread.
To respond to this heresy, one can point to the teachings of Peter and Paul in the New Testament, which make it clear that circumcision is not a requirement for salvation or membership in the New Covenant. Additionally, one can emphasise the gospel message of grace and faith, which stands in contrast to a works-based righteousness. Finally, it is important to recognise that while circumcision may have been a cultural or religious practice for some, it is not a requirement for a relationship with God or membership in the Christian community.
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Frequently asked questions
Heresy is defined by the Catholic Church as "the obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after the reception of baptism of some truth which is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith". To commit heresy, one must refuse to be corrected.
Arianism is perhaps the most typical and persistent of the ancient heresies. It involves the denial of the divinity of Jesus Christ, claiming that there was only one Person in the Godhead, the Father. Another example is the Circumcision heresy, which taught that circumcision was required for membership in the New Covenant that Christ had come to inaugurate.
Formal heresy refers to a person who is aware that their belief contradicts Catholic teaching but continues to hold that belief willingly. Material heresy, on the other hand, is an opinion that objectively contradicts Church teachings but is held by someone who does not know that their belief is heretical.
Catholics should condemn heresies as false and mistaken ideas about Christ's original revelation. They should also be aware of the harmful consequences of tolerating heresies and strive to identify and affirm the truth, as taught by the Catholic Church.
