Defining 'heresy' succinctly

[Olympiada]

This morning a non-religious friend asked me what a heresy is and when I said I could email him something, he wanted an explanation from me in one sentence. How would you answer that question?

[Michael Stickles]

This morning a non-religious friend asked me what a heresy is and when I said I could email him something, he wanted an explanation from me in one sentence. How would you answer that question?

That depends. How many commas and semicolons can I use before I have to use a period?

Seriously, my attempt would be this:


Heresy is when someone who professes to be a Christian knowingly rejects the teachings of the Christian Church, either by accepting a belief which the Church has rejected as heretical, or by rejecting a belief which the Church holds as a dogma.

I admit to being influenced in this by the OrthodoxWiki page on heresy (http://orthodoxwiki.org/Heresy), and by Thomas Aquinas' definition of heresy as "... a species of infidelity in men who, having professed the faith of Christ, corrupt its dogmas."

Obviously, this leaves some "wiggle room" and grey areas, but there's only so much you can do with one sentence. I'll be interested to read the definitions others come up with.

In Christ,
Mike

[Paul Cowan]

This is very similar to the thread of the young lady who wanted to explain Christinaity in 4 sentences. This like that is a test of the quasi-unbeliever who tempts us to relegate our belief system to the least common denominator. Orthodoxy is the fullness of Christ, not the minutess of Him.

Paul

[Kosta]

Heresy: When a believer intentionally substitutes his own opinion for the revealed truth- and refuses to repent and correct himself when his error is exposed.
But i like Mike's defintion as well.

[Olympiada]

I sent him a link to this page so we will see what he says. He may not even read it, he didn't mention it to me again. I don't think he was really paying attention to the conversation anyways.

[Olga]

Sin is a transgression of God’s law, but heresy is an alteration of God’s law.

[Deanna Leonti]

This is very similar to the thread of the young lady who wanted to explain Christinaity in 4 sentences. This like that is a test of the quasi-unbeliever who tempts us to relegate our belief system to the least common denominator. Orthodoxy is the fullness of Christ, not the minutess of Him.

Paul


I found 3 words
Faith, Hope & Charity

Deanna

[Antonios]

Dear Olympiada,

One way to define heresy would be that it is a state of prelest due to disobedience and pride.

In Christ,
Antonios

[Olympiada]

Well considering I didn't hear back from this young man, and he said he didn't want an email, just a one sentence definition in my own words, I don't think he cares. What's that all about anyways? I doubt he is going to say anything to me about it when I see him. The trick is, am I going to be able to refrain myself from saying something. I don't think so.Yeah, I'm mad. I think I have been played.

[Michael Stickles]

This is very similar to the thread of the young lady who wanted to explain Christianity in 4 sentences. This like that is a test of the quasi-unbeliever who tempts us to relegate our belief system to the least common denominator. Orthodoxy is the fullness of Christ, not the minutess of Him.

Hopefully we at least do a better job than the book editor I read about who boasted he could edit the New Testament down to one paragraph. When somebody called him on it, his response was: "He was born. He taught. He died. He's coming back, and He's not going to be real happy."

[Deanna Leonti]

I do not know which part of Genesis is fact and which is not fact.
Some say that the story of Adam & Eve in the garden is a myth, ok then
which parts in Genesis are to be accepted as real and which parts are suppose to be legend/myth the (Creation) part?.

Please do not misinterpret what I am trying to learn from.


all responses are appreciated,
Deanna

[Yuri Zharikov]

Hopefully we at least do a better job than the book editor I read about who boasted he could edit the New Testament down to one paragraph. When somebody called him on it, his response was: "He was born. He taught. He died. He's coming back, and He's not going to be real happy."

I wonder if this has already been done and not just for the NT but for the whole Bible - the Creed

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear Deanna, you wrote:

I do not know which part of Genesis is fact and which is not fact.
Some say that the story of Adam & Eve in the garden is a myth, ok then
which parts in Genesis are to be accepted as real and which parts are suppose to be legend/myth the (Creation) part?.

You will find that this matter is being explored in other threads (using the 'search' feature at the top of most pages): I would heartily encourage you to look there for more on this topic.

INXC, Dcn Matthew

[Deanna Leonti]

Dear Deanna, you wrote:


You will find that this matter is being explored in other threads (using the 'search' feature at the top of most pages): I would heartily encourage you to look there for more on this topic.

INXC, Dcn Matthew


Thank You

Deanna