What is heresy?
By grandpa_lash
@grandpa_lash (5225)
Australia
August 24, 2009 5:47am CST
The word comes from the Greek and means simply, a choice, usually between beliefs. It can only exist from the viewpoint of the orthodoxy that disagrees with it, and thus cannot be objectively defined: what is one’s person’s heresy is another’s orthodoxy.
It is purely a subjective value judgment, and it strikes me that the followers of any belief system who see their orthodoxy as an objective reality which allows the literal or metaphorical destruction of those who do not share it as among the most evil people in the world.
Intolerance of difference is the primary sin against humanity.
2 people like this
3 responses
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
25 Aug 09
Hi grandpa_lash, You are correct in that it depends on whether one agrees with it or not. We see this throughout the history of Christianity, especially in the middle ages and after the reformation but also in the early church. I'm also convinced that there are groups in the church today who would be just as intolerant if given the power. It can also be found in radical groups among Muslims and maybe in some religions as well. Blessings.
1 person likes this
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
25 Aug 09
This sort of intolerance, often associated with fundamentalism, is found in every religion, even Buddhism. While there is always a minority in every religion of honest, compassionate, tolerant human beings, it seems to me that the bulk of religious people are intolerant to some degree or other, which probably explains much of the religiously originated violence we see in history. And all religions have sexism built in to their structures.
Lash
1 person likes this
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
24 Aug 09
I should also point out that you seem to have missed the qualifier I added to followers of belief systems "who see their orthodoxy as an objective reality which allows the literal or metaphorical destruction of those who do not share”. This does not apply to all or possibly even to most followers of an orthodoxy.
Lash
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
27 Aug 09
Interesting, I did not know that the word originally meant choice. My studies in history have shown me that it is a word used to condemn anyone who disagrees with the person using it. The Church of Rome used it to condemn and then suppress any Christian writings that it did not agree with. It is a word used to justify torture and murder over the centuries.
I agree that it is just a subjective value judgement and it has often been misused to gain power, money and property. The Knights Templar were tortured and burned as heretics simply because the King of France wanted their money. That is always the danger with orthodoxy and its refusal to allow change.
As long as people are not allowed to live as they desire, humans will always want change for what is a good world to some is a nightmare to others. A good example of that is the orthodox faiths with suppress women.
