religion III- early heresies

what is an anathema?

a ban solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by exocommunication

what is doctrine?

a collection of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, can be religious or secular

what is a heresy?

a disbelief in one or more articles of the Deposit of Faith

what made it easy for heretics to believe as they did?

misunderstandings, literal readings were taken out of concept, ignorance, it was convienent

about the Christological heresies?

most dangerous to Christianity. they deny the two natures of Jesus and they deny the doctrine of the Trinity and the Incarnation.

are those who teach heresies sincere in their beliefs or are they trying to deceive people?

most were sincere

what is asceticism?

strict code of behavior, strict self-discipline

why is Arianism a Christological heresy?

it rejected the Divine nature of Christ.

no sooner did the Church resolve the problems it faces from the outside (Roman persecutions), than it faced many problems from within. what were these problems, and how is the fact that they were resolved proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit acting in, and guiding the Church?

many were teaching and believing things contrary to Jesus' teachings and to Apostolic Tradition. the fact that the Church has survived these and other issues is proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit. there have been no changes in doctrine over the millennia.

identify and define 2 kinds of heresies

material heresy- due to ignorance, misunderstanding formal heresy- a free, conscience decision to deny some part of the faith

how is Gnosticism alive and well in our times?

through the New Age Movement

about the Sacramental and Dogmatic heresies?

- believers denied the necessity of grace through the sacraments for salvation - believers question certain doctrine and theology of the sacraments. they denied dogmatic teachings about the forgiveness of sin and original sin - believers believe that salvation is gained through personal or individual merit alone

about the Apocalyptic heresies?

- believers experience "Divine Revelation" and recognize this as an authority greater than or equal to Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition - believers anticipate the "end" as near so they must live in extreme asceticism - believers attempt to predict future events

about Montanism?

- believers experience a "private" revelation - cult is seen as a "New Prophecy" - the arrival of the "Kingdom" is imminent- so the leaders are directly inspired by the Holy Spirit - fallen Christians cannot be redeemed - reject the grace of Baptism to forgive sin

identify the 3 key Christian Doctrines that counter the errors of Gnosticism. (short answer)

1. Catholic teaching is that both spirit and matter are good because God made them. 2. salvation comes from the sacrifice of Christ and the acceptance of God's graces 3. Christ died for all of humanity, not just a few

why were the first heresies particularly dangerous?

1. they were not restricted to a circle of academics but rather affected the entire populace 2. they attacked the person of Christ, heart of Christianity

what are some of the major heresies the Church Fathers confronted in the first 4 centuries? (short answer)

Apocalyptic, Gnostic, Christological, and Sacrament and Dogmatic

what are the Christological heresies?

Arianism, Apollonarianism, Nestorianism, and Monophysitism

in response to the heresies of the 4th and 5th centuries, which doctrines of the Church took form and were clarified?

Christological teachings, those regarding the Trinity and the nature of Christ

what are the Sacramental and Dogmatic heresies?

Donatism and Pelagianism

define Gnosticism and explain its basic belief; identify the three core errors of Gnosticism. (short answer)

Gnosticism- salvation can be achieved through secret knowledge 1. spirit is good, physical matter is evil 2. man can overcome his corrupt state and return to God 3. God made this secret knowledge accessible to few people by sending a Savior

what are the Gnostic heresies?

Marcionism, Manichaeism, and Docetism

what are the Apocralyptic heresies?

Monotanism

what was the 1st solemn declaration of the central Catholic truths?

Nicene Creed

identify 3 types of creeds used in the early centuries of the Church as professions of Faith

Nicene Creed, Apostles Creed, and Athanasian Creed

what is dogma?

a revealed truth solemnly defined by the Church

when is the Nicene Creed said?

after the homily

what is the Apostles Creed?

also known as the Old Roman Creed. it was adopted during the apostolic era as a profession of faith from the teachings of the Apostles. it was and still is used during the Rite of Baptism because of its Trinitarian form.

what is a creed?

an official statement of belief

what is St. Thomas Aquinas' definition of a heresy?

an unbelief belonging to those who profess the Christian faith but corrupt its dogmas

what does the survival of the Church against such remarkable opposition tell us?

because it has survived, there must be some kind of divine intervention. her teachings are still viable and not out dated.

how did the Church survive the numerous heresies of the 4th and 5th centuries?

because of the leaderships of the Popes, the writings of the Church Fathers, the documents of the Ecumenical Councils, all under the inspiration and guidance under the Holy Spirit.

why is heresy a sin?

because you turn away from God

what is the Athanasian Creed?

between 4th and 5th century to better understand the 2nd person of the Trinity. it was developed because of controversy and conflict about the Incarnation.

about Donatism?

denied the validity of the sacrament if the priest is in a sinful sin - they believe that apostates returning to the faith, specifically clergy, must be re-baptized and re-ordained

about Pelagianism?

denies the necessity of grace for salvation. sacraments are not necessary.

about Marcionism?

false dualism, good vs. evil

Arius was well educated, but appeared to commit the same error that many Christians make in our day and age. what is it?

he took Scripture out of context, and he did not accept or recognize the authority of the Church.

who was Athanasius and what did he accomplish? (what was the significance of his use of the Greek term Homoousios- consubstantial- in his formulation of the beliefs about the nature of Christ?

he was bishop of Alexandria. he proposed a statement of Catholic belief regarding the relationship between the Father and the Son. he used the Greek term Homoousious meaning "of the same essence."

identify 2 significant causes of early heresies.

inaccurate interpretation of Scripture and inprecise philosophical explanations

about Docetism?

physical matter is evil, so Jesus cannot be human, he only appeared to be human; he could not actually die on the Cross

about Manichaeism?

physical matter is evil, spirit is good. good is gained through knowledge and strict asceticism

what is the Nicene Creed?

presented at the Council of Nicaea in 325 to settle controversy in the trinity. it is still used today in liturgy.

what is consubstantial?

represents the Church's best articulation of the truth about co-equality and unity of the Father and Son

how soon after the Ascension did false teachings begin to circulate? how do we know this?

right away, Jesus warned them. Peter warned of "false teachers among you." Paul wrote of people who would not endure the teachings.

what does it mean when we refer to the "orthodox Faith" or "orthodoxy"?

right teaching

what is the Hypostatic Union and when was it adopted?

the joining of 2 natures in 1 substance. it was adopted at the Council of Chalcedon in 451

what is the Deposit of Faith?

the sum of all the truths revealed in Scripture and through Tradition, the fullness of the Faith entrusted by Christ to the Apostles.

why are the Christological beliefs considered heresies and not just a different religion? (write out)

they all identify with Christianity. heretics are Christians who choose to break apart from their faith.

briefly identify the errors in Apollinarianism, Nestorianism, and Monophysitism.

they are all Christological heresies denying both or 1 nature of Christ.

identify and briefly explain the 4 early heresies. (short answer)

they are all Christological heresies; they specifically attack the person of Christ. 1. Arianism- denies the Trinity, rejects the Divinity of Jesus therefore they reject the Divinity of God 2. Apollinarianism- deny Jesus' humanity 3. Nestorianism- deny that Jesus could be human and divine at the same time 4. Monophysitism- claims Jesus is Divine, but his human nature is absorbed into his divine nature

how were Arian beliefs a threat to the Church's teachings of the Trinity and Redemption?

they attempted to warp the Church's understanding on these teachings by denying the Incarnation of God.

why are Donatism and Pelagianism both Dogmatic and Sacramental heresies?

they deny teachings on sin, the necessity of the Sacraments, and grace for salvation.

why are other religions like the Jewish or Hindu faiths, not considered heresies?

they do not identify with Christianity

how did the basic doctrines of the Faith form during the 4th and 5th centuries?

through the meetings of Ecumenical Councils and the writings of the Church Fathers, all guided through the Holy Spirit

when does a teaching become an official heresy?

when the Church defines it as contrary to matters of faith and morals