Heretic
Heresy (from Greek / choice, preference for a doctrine ) is primarily a school of thought. The Garden of Epicurus was such a hairesis. Translation Latin haeresis is, heresy. The antiquity attaches no value to these pejorative terms.
The pejorative value is born in a Christian environment with first theological controversies evidenced Justin Martyr and Irenaeus of Lyons who wrote "against heresies" in the second century. In the fourth century emperors take measures against heretics, religious monopoly that will prohibit the freedom of belief and freedom of opinion.
In the ancient context, religion is more dogmatic than ritual, the hairesis not the drama that will be of the Christian heresy. Indeed, the ancient polytheistic separates the myth of philosophy. The monotheism introduced the theology , the rational study of the divine, which encompasses and transcends both areas. Theology can lay down objective truths about God, the dogmas. However, these dogmas are not of equal importance in all religions, which explains the different attitudes to heresy.
- For Jews, belonging to the Chosen People precedence over any theological conception, allowing the existence of sects, doctrines and practices in different but still belonging to the Judaic heritage.
- For Christians, the Church is the living body of Christ. The doctrinal unity is vital. Every heresy is a threat to this unity, it is a wound inflicted on the body of Christ, thus a sacrilege.
- For Muslims, there is no dogma that is not explicitly contained in the Koran, from the words of Allah dictated to Gabriel who revealed to Muhammad. In any event, Sunni Islam has no clergy, no authority has jurisdiction to decide the validity of a particular interpretation of the Holy Book.
In a Christian context, and by analogy in other contexts, heresy refers to a complex situation of conflict and rupture, which usually superimposes heresy itself (doctrinal deviance on the content of faith) and the schism ( Disciplinary: disobedience to legitimate ecclesiastical authority). Heresy arises from a discrepancy between what the schools on truth (made by the dogma ). It grows both intellectually, by the implacable opposition of theses, and at Community level, by the practical impossibility "to live as brothers" with supporters of another school. Finally, it concludes with a paradoxical situation of social breakdown: on both sides, we recognize that the communion between warring parties is impractical, but would still be necessary.
Faith is necessary for salvation, the orthodoxy is crucial and heterodoxy is risking the pains of hell. Heresy is the drama of the hostile brothers, both brothers and enemies, each claiming the true legacy of the Father. In this it differs radically from the inter-religious conflicts.
In Christian antiquity, the combination of some of these doctrines to political power (after Constantine I , for example) will also give importance to these temporal issues.
Summary |
In Judaism
The concept of heresy attaches itself to many false Messiahs that dot the history of Judaism. The most important of these is that of Sabbatai Zevi , who founded the community called the Shabbethaians. It is modern parents Baruch Spinoza.
In the eighteenth century , this heresy upset Jewish communities of Europe where the predominant Marranos , like Amsterdam or Venice. She came up with more communities Sephardic communities that askhnazes.
Culturally, Judaism promotes discussion and doctrinal differences, as stated in the dictum "when two Talmudists meet, there are three immediate conflicting opinions." The difference of interpretation is allowed or even encouraged as evidenced by the discussions recorded in the Talmud. After a lengthy discussion, intended to pass all the cases reviewed, the decision of Court is passed, the minority opinion is preserved in case it might be useful.
Generally speaking, a heresy in Judaism led to a split, with no real consequence for the minority who are still considered as belonging to Judaism, except in the ultra-Orthodox congregations contemporary. This is that membership in the "chosen people" is manifested in practice, much more through the sharing of social values (culture and religious practice) and the consciousness that people live under the eyes of God than by reference to a particular dogma.
Spinoza was an extreme case. Baruch Spinoza , was declared Herem, ie by the community of Amsterdam. However, this conviction is more to the story of that community, mainly composed of Marranos came from Portugal to heterodoxy positions Spinoza, at least until its exclusion.
In Christianity
From the earliest days of Christianity, a plethora of theological understandings and liturgical practices causes that lead to conflicts developed. The Council of Jerusalem is one example, but one can also mention the more prosaic question of fixing the date of Easter which Irenaeus of Lyons must intervene.
The dogma Christians are based on Scripture and Tradition. Scriptures are called the biblical texts of the Old and New Testament and Tradition received the oral heritage of the apostles. From its beginnings, Christianity was confronted with many heterodox theological ideas, whether in Christological ( Docetism , Arianism , Nestorianism , monophysitism ), cosmological ( gnosis , macedonian , Manichaeism , Bogomilism , Cathars ), or church ( Marcionism , Montanism , Donatists , etc..).
The Church's response to these contradictions is the union of ecumenical councils (that is to say, bringing together all the bishops) to discuss and decide on controversial issues. For example, the Council of Nicaea , which met in 325, produced a creed (the Nicene Creed ), which clarifies the nature of Christ and denies the Gnosticism and Arianism. Following the statements of Arius, this symbol is completed in 381 at the Council of Constantinople clarification on the nature of the Holy Spirit. The Nicene-Constantinople is still today the ordinary form of the creed of Christians.
Once a council has decided, contrary to all theology and dogmas defined is indeed a heretic. Anyone who professes and diffuse such a theology while fishing against the unity of the Church. It is punishable by excommunication. In practice, the fight against heresies, which takes several forms, contrary to popular belief, are rarely violent. The most common are the catechesis (teaching introductory) and sermons (including speeches made during Masses).
Faced with a dramatic resurgence of heresy in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, a religious order, that of the Dominicans is even created in 1215 with the sole purpose of preaching to the heretics.
At the same time, the ecclesiastical courts are overwhelmed at the number of cases submitted to them, the question of dogmatic orthodoxy is often difficult. To avoid hasty judgments, and even popular lynchings, a special tribunal, the Inquisition , was established. It is entrusted to the Dominicans, Dominicans and Franciscans.
If, after investigation of the investigation (inquisitio) the case of heresy is proved, the judge reminded the dogma and solemnly asks the accused to join (profession of faith).
In the case where the accused agrees to withdraw, he was sentenced to a mere penance (usually in the form of acts of devotion, charity, or pilgrimage), unless it went to extra guilty forced conversions, in which case, he faces the "walling", that is to say the prison sentence served by the secular authorities.
In case of refusal, he was excommunicated. He loses all authority (be it religious or secular) can not receive (much less lavish) sacraments. Finally and most importantly, it is doomed to eternal damnation.
The stake is worth in case of relapse, that is to say that someone who recanted during a previous trial continues to teach his doctrine heretical. Again, when the accused is convicted of apostasy, it is delivered to the secular arm that executes the sentence.
From the Edict of Constantine I in 313 , especially from the Council of Nicomedia 317 erected in court intended to impose Arius first confession of faith on pain of excommunication. The dogma has been defined as a standard of "true faith" by reaction to the "deviant" heretics.
Later, with the Council of Nicaea I. , is a heretical doctrine divergent formal education of a Church and its dogmas , as defined by the authority (bishop, council) on the basis of Scripture and Tradition.
Some think they can generalize by saying that heresy is any doctrine contrary to conceptions considered established without requiring that any "evidence": the power to sentence in lieu thereof. Heresy (virtually synonymous with heterodoxy ) is an opportunity to create a new form of orthodoxy. In the context of developing heterodoxies the second century and third century , heterodoxy becomes a heresy from the time a council condemns In Roman Catholicism Roman The bubble Gratia Divina ( 1656 ) defines heresy as "the belief, education or defense of opinions, dogmas, comment, ideas contrary to the teachings of the Holy Bible , the Gospels, the tradition (Christianity) and the magisterium. "The Inquisition , special court in charge of the fight, is the work of Pope Gregory IX ( 1231 ). See also: exemplum. The Quran is the primary source of Islamic jurisprudence it is common to find different interpretations to the same text from clarification from the speech and the tradition of the prophet. Ali Asghar Engineer dit dans son livre propos de la mthodologie d'interprtation du Coran , 2003 : "Interpretations of the Qur'an are numerous. Never commentators and interpreters of the Holy Book did not reach unanimity on the possible readings. Because the Koran is open to new interpretations. Many interpretations have been almost "sacrosanct" by tradition are, in fact, the productions of the medieval period. And interpretations that rely on the hadith require that either verified the authenticity of these, some contradictory to the text of the Koran. " The Indian thinker Asghar Ali Engineer argues that each generation sees itself recognized the right to interpret the Koran with his own light, in light of his own experiences. The Charter of Yathrib known as Constitution of Medina Al Medina though the words do not appear, defines the kafir or obstructive. It is excluded from the security guarantees and assistance provided by the pact. Among others, it can not execute vengeance according to lex talionis. A confidant does not kill another confidant to avenge a kafir The reason is that the kafir does not rely on God , not of Muhammad. Later in the charter: "Those Jews who follow us are entitled to assistance in purchasing: we do not harm and it does not allied against them " However, the paper never refers to these Jewish allies of their own tribal name, but only by their relationship to the tribes and manifest affides meticulous vigilance against them. In the eighth century , the Jews of Yathrib were the subject of discussion and argument rather than a peaceful agreement. The term refers both zandaqua in Persia , Seront condamns sous ce chef d'accusation : and some scholars, including: Recently, these provisions have led a Moroccan cartoonist to be sentenced by a religious court excessive. (*) Closed in the ninth century in Sunni Islam , re-open the XVII century in Shiism See also condemn laughter is a totalitarian drift It is thus confronted with a aporia because every believer must personally appropriate the text of the Qur'an "The questioning of humanities such as various ideological uses that are made of the Koranic text, invite reflection on how the believer appropriates the word of God. Too often, it is considered a text "frozen", "passive", while a living faith must raise a real dialogue between the reader (or listener) and the text. This is noted Rachid Benzine in an article just published by the journal Islam and that we offer with the agreement of those responsible for this publication. " Rachid Benzine , Read the Quran Otherwise) The Baha'i Faith , founded on a heterodox Shiite Muslim, born in Iran in 1844 , is persecuted by Islam under apostasy. In Islam
Introduction
Kafir
Exception
Zandaqua
Fitna
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