Christian Heresies

Dokesis

Greek word for appearance. Referred to heresy which claimed Jesus only appeared to die on the Cross.

Neoplatonism

School of philosophy which held that the logos was a created being, not the Supreme Being. Platonic philosophies, in general, viewed the material world as less perfect than the world of ideas. Thus, besides denying Christ's true divinity, many early Platonic heresies greatly deemphasized Christ's humanity, if not openly denying it.

Docetism

Derived from the Greek word dokesis, meaning appearance, this Gnostic heresy maintained that Jesus did not die on the cross but was spared by someone else who took his place

Gnosticism

Derived from the Greek word gnosis ("knowledge"), the name refers to one of the principle tenets of this multifaceted heresy, namely, that salvation may be achieved through knowledge. In the second century, Gnosticism, which had eastern origins and influences from Persia and India, very successfully perverted the meaning of Christianity and its symbols. To prove its authenticity, Gnosticism co-opted the Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, and erected an entirely new cosmological structure that challenged the intent of Christianity.

Apolliniarianism

Founded by Apollinarius in the fourth century, this heresy denied the existence of a human mind and will in Christ

Marcionism

Founded by Marcion in the second century, he borrowed the Gnostic idea of a Demiurge, calling this force the jealous and vengeful God of Law. According to Marcionism, the God of Jesus Christ, the true God, has no law and is sent to bring about the demise of the Demiurge. He renounced all Jewish influence on the Church, believing that the God of the Old Testament was the evil Demiurge

Montanism

Founded by Montanus in the second century, he believed that due to an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon him, he knew that a new, heavenly kingdom was imminent. One of the first apocalyptic heresies, his followers lived a very austere life rejecting second marriages and flight from persecution

Nestorianism

Founded in the fourth century by Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople, this heresy maintained that Christ was both human and divine but was not himself fully human or fully divine. Instead, he believed that Christ was a union of two men, one human the other divine.

HOMOEANS (SABELLIANS)

From Greek homoios, meaning "similar," this Scriptural purist party rejected the use of the word homoousios at the Council of Nicaea because it was not used in the Bible

Anomoeans

From the Greek anhomoios, meaning "dissimilar," this sect of Arianism stressed an essential difference between the Father and Son in the Trinity.

Monophysitism

From the Greek monos, meaning "alone," and physis, meaning "nature," this heresy claimed that there is only one nature in Christ and that His human nature is "incorporated" into the Divine Nature.

Monothelitism

Heresy claiming that Christ has two natures but only one will

Pelagianism

Heresy denying original sin and the need for grace in man's salvation. According to this heresy, the sacraments are superfluous since salvation and holiness can only be achieved through human endeavor

Manicaeism

Heresy founded by Mani in the 3rd century. An elaborate form of Gnosticism, it involved the relationship between light and darkness, believing that through rituals and sharing their knowledge believers could regain the light stolen by Satan and hidden in the brains of men, thus freeing the light to return to its original source. Manichæism heavily borrowed from the Scriptures, especially from the writings of St. Paul. Mani incorporated many of St. Paul's arguments and imagery to support his own teaching concerning the struggle between darkness and light

Donatism

Heresy that rejected the sacraments celebrated by clergy who had formerly betrayed their faith.

Heresy

The refusal to accept one or more truths of the Faith which are required for Catholic belief. It is a species of unbelief belonging to those who profess the Christian Faith, but corrupt its dogma

Arianism

Third and fourth century heresy founded by the Alexandrian priest Arius. It denied Jesus' divinity, claiming that Jesus is neither God nor equal to the Father, but rather an exceptional creature raised to the level of "Son of God" because of his heroic fidelity to the Father's will and his sublime holiness