Category: Heresies

What Is Deism? The Rise, Influence, and Legacy of the “Religion of Reason”

Posted on By Stephen Bedard No Comments on What Is Deism? The Rise, Influence, and Legacy of the “Religion of Reason”
What Is Deism? The Rise, Influence, and Legacy of the “Religion of Reason”
Heresies

During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Europe witnessed dramatic intellectual and cultural changes. Scientific discoveries challenged traditional assumptions about the natural world, philosophers emphasized the power of human reason, and many began to question the authority of established churches. Out of this environment emerged Deism, a religious movement that sought to affirm belief in God while … Read More “What Is Deism? The Rise, Influence, and Legacy of the “Religion of Reason”” »

The Rise and Impact of Arianism: One of Early Christianity’s Defining Controversies

Posted on By Stephen Bedard 3 Comments on The Rise and Impact of Arianism: One of Early Christianity’s Defining Controversies
The Rise and Impact of Arianism: One of Early Christianity’s Defining Controversies
Heresies

The Arian controversy was one of the most significant theological disputes in early Christianity, shaping the doctrine of the Trinity and the future of the Christian Church. It centered around Arius, a presbyter from Alexandria, who argued that Jesus Christ was not fully divine but a created being. This belief sparked fierce debate, leading to the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) and influencing the course of Christian … Read More “The Rise and Impact of Arianism: One of Early Christianity’s Defining Controversies” »

The Mystery of the Cathars

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The Mystery of the Cathars
Heresies, Roman Catholic Church

When we think of the Crusades, we think of wars with Muslim armies in the Middle East. But at least one Crusade took place in Europe and the opponents were not Muslims. This was the Crusade against the Cathars, also known as the Albigensian Crusade which took place in the thirteenth century. Who were the … Read More “The Mystery of the Cathars” »

Gnosticism and the New Testament

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Gnosticism and the New Testament
Heresies, New Testament

One of the greatest and earliest challenges to what would become orthodox Christianity was Gnosticism. But where did Gnosticism come from and how does it relate to the New Testament. Pheme Perkins, author of Gnosticism and the New Testament, is a New Testament scholar. She argues that there was a pre-Christian form of Gnosticism that … Read More “Gnosticism and the New Testament” »

The Gnostics – Review

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The Gnostics – Review
Book Reviews, Heresies

One of the biggest threats to what would become orthodox Christianity was Gnosticism. There had been other theological innovations in the early church but Gnosticism was the most radical. And the most confusing. A helpful book for moderns readers to understand this complex movement is The Gnostics: Identifying and Early Christian Cult by Alastair H. … Read More “The Gnostics – Review” »