Early church persecution & Evolution/creationism

[StJoseph8]

I have read from some early Christian historians how the early Church persecuted other groups like the gnostics and that the Church today exists because of a “defeat and conquer” type of idea. In terms of ‘today’s Church’, wouldn’t the Church’s struggle to disavow other sects be comparable to the evolution vs. creationism struggle in academia? The evolutionist would strongly disagree and, I would imagine, try to prevent creationism from being declared the most plausible theory in an educational setting and vice versa with the creationist. Couldn’t this reasoning apply to the reason for the Church’s judgement of the other early sects of Christianity, because their belief/theology of Jesus wasn’t true? Thoughts?

 

[adgloriam]

Your are mixing different things. First, without a doubt, in the first centuries the Christians were persecuted for the simple reason they were a tiny minority among pagans.

Then, regarding heresies it is held that more times than not Catholics were the underdogs and heretics had the upper hand. Were it not for Christs protection of His Church the Catholics would have been crushed several times over history. Sometimes, as with the Albigensian it was only by miracle (one might say) that the Catholics prevailed (so no, “defeat and conquer” hardly applies at all).

All depends on exact context, of country and century. There is hardly a “general rule” comparing the 3rd century to reformation in the 16th century.

As for “Theory of evolution” you are taking a leap from the first centuries to the time of Darwin. Trying to establish a connection there is “far fetched” to say the least…

I’d recommend: Fr. Hardon Archives - Heresies and Heretics

 

[spiderweb]

I would just like to ask “How” were the gnostics persecuted by the Christians. Early Christians wrote against them to lead people to truth or to prevent them from being led astray. I don’t see any actual “persecution” of the gnostics unless you also want to say that Jesus persecuted the scribes and pharisees.

That aspect doesn’t make sense to me. Later in history that has some merit, but I don’t see that in the early church.