Lecture on Heresies Related to Christianity

Definition of Heresy

• Heresy: A belief that is incompatible with established doctrines.
• Common misconception: Related to events like witch burnings or Galileo's torture by the church, which is historically inaccurate.

Key Heresies in Christianity

Liberalism

• Not political liberalism: Not related to political affiliations like Democrats.
• Impact: Undermines foundations of Christianity (Virgin birth, resurrection, divinity of Christ).
• Belief: Christianity can mean anything, thus meaning nothing.

Arianism

• Origin: Named after Aras, who claimed Jesus was created by God and thus not eternal.
• Counter belief: Jesus is God and has always existed.
• Modern example: Jehovah's Witnesses.

Modalism

• Belief: God is one but appears in different forms (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).
• Counter belief: Three distinct persons, one God.

Partialism

• Belief: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are parts (one-third each) of God.
• Counter belief: Each is fully God, undivided.

Tritheism

• Belief: Three separate God's beings.
• Counter belief: One God in three persons.
• Example: Mormons.

Apollinarianism

• Belief: Jesus had a divine mind, not a human one.
• Counter belief: Jesus needed a human mind for redemption of human nature.

Nestorianism

• Belief: Separation between divine and human natures of Jesus.
• Counter belief: Unified divine and human natures in one person of Christ.
• Impact: Misunderstanding about Mary and God.

Monophysitism and Miaphysitism

• Belief: Jesus's divine and human natures combined into one.
• Miaphysitism: Not heretical if it acknowledges both natures.

Adoptionism

• Belief: Jesus became God at a certain point.
• Counter belief: Jesus has always been God; eternal.

Pelagianism

• Belief: Humans are born as blank slates, can choose good or bad.
• Counter belief: Humans are inherently sinful; need Jesus for salvation.

Gnosticism

• Belief: Physical world is evil; aim to escape to spiritual realm.
• Counter belief: Jesus redeems the physical world; Heaven and Earth will be united.

Subordinationism

• Belief: Jesus eternally submits to the Father.
• Counter belief: Jesus's human will submits, but divine will is unified with the Father.

Importance of Correct Belief

• Passion for Jesus: Christians argue to be accurate about Jesus's nature.
• Religious and Dogmatic: Everyone is dogmatic about something important to them.