Modern day heresy

[FireFromHeaven]

I am working on a PowerPoint of ancient and modern heresies in the Church. Im finding tons of info on the ancient heresies but not so much on modern day heresies. So im asking the following questions.
What exactly are some large modern day heresies? How were they founded? Who lead them? What makes them heretical? How were they refuted?

 

[SteveVH]

I am working on a PowerPoint of ancient and modern heresies in the Church. Im finding tons of info on the ancient heresies but not so much on modern day heresies. So im asking the following questions.
What exactly are some large modern day heresies? How were they founded? Who lead them? What makes them heretical? How were they refuted?

There is nothing new under the sun. The same heresies that were condemned by the early Church are alive and well today (Arianism, Gnosticism, Nestorianism, Pelagianism etc., etc.)

In modern terms I would say the following are what jump out at me in this age:

1. Once saved, always saved.
2. Eucharist is only a symbol.
3. Denial of the Trinity
4. Baptism as a public proclamation of faith rather than a cleansing of the soul.
5. Denial that the Church has the power to forgive sins.
6. Denial of the sacraments in general.
7. Denial of the authority given to the Church by Christ (power to bind and loose).

I am sure, seeing as there are at least 30,000 Christian denominations, that there are many, many more, some of which will come to mind after I post this.

 

[Joe_5859]

As Steve said, a lot of the heresies of old are still around today, they are just repackaged and called by another name.

In the present day, things aren’t as easily identifiable as the old heresies. We often cannot easily point to one specific person as the founder of such-and-such heresy.

For example, relativism is a big one. But you’d be hard pressed to point to a single individual as the founder of relativism.

 

[bzkoss236]

There is nothing new under the sun. The same heresies that were condemned by the early Church are alive and well today (Arianism, Gnosticism, Nestorianism, Pelagianism etc., etc.)

In modern terms I would say the following are what jump out at me in this age:

1. Once saved, always saved.
2. Eucharist is only a symbol.
3. Denial of the Trinity
4. Baptism as a public proclamation of faith rather than a cleansing of the soul.
5. Denial that the Church has the power to forgive sins.
6. Denial of the sacraments in general.
7. Denial of the authority given to the Church by Christ (power to bind and loose).

I am sure, seeing as there are at least 30,000 Christian denominations, that there are many, many more, some of which will come to mind after I post this.

1. Contraception and Abortion are good.

 

[SteveVH]

1. Contraception and Abortion are good.

Absolutely. That would have to be included, along with same-sex marriage.

 

[Lormar]

Denial of Original Sin

 

[benjohnson]

I’m not sure it’s a heresy, but Modernery seems to be a problem. The silly idea that ‘anything new is automaticallyo better than anything old’ is a vexing one.

 

[JohnMPhilomena]

Here’s a great thread on the “Once saved, always saved” heresy.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=791869

 

[Nicea325]

I am working on a PowerPoint of ancient and modern heresies in the Church. Im finding tons of info on the ancient heresies but not so much on modern day heresies. So im asking the following questions.
What exactly are some large modern day heresies? How were they founded? Who lead them? What makes them heretical? How were they refuted?

Here is one:

Me and my Bible and no church

 

[Nicea325]

I’m not sure it’s a heresy, but Modernery seems to be a problem. The silly idea that ‘anything new is automaticallyo better than anything old’ is a vexing one.

It is also called relativism in many aspects.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

There is nothing new under the sun. The same heresies that were condemned by the early Church are alive and well today (Arianism, Gnosticism, Nestorianism, Pelagianism etc., etc.)

In modern terms I would say the following are what jump out at me in this age:

1. Once saved, always saved.
2. Eucharist is only a symbol.
3. Denial of the Trinity
4. Baptism as a public proclamation of faith rather than a cleansing of the soul.
5. Denial that the Church has the power to forgive sins.
6. Denial of the sacraments in general.
7. Denial of the authority given to the Church by Christ (power to bind and loose).

I am sure, seeing as there are at least 30,000 Christian denominations, that there are many, many more, some of which will come to mind after I post this.

With the exception of the number three, which incidentally I have never encountered in the Catholic Church, this list is pretty Protestant in nature.

The errors (I’ll refrain from calling them heresies, though likely they sometimes reach that point) that I’ve noticed among Catholics in my neck of the woods include:

-Support for contraception, self-abuse, homosexuality, and other such sexual sins
-Support for some forms of mercy killing
-Complete pacifism
-Warped interpretation of Catholic social teaching that essentially reduces it to either the Democratic or Republican party platform
-Various forms of indifferentism regarding world religions or at least other forms of Christianity
-Extreme, emotionally charged rejection of wholesome things like scholastic philosophy, older Western liturgical forms, certain saints, etc.
-Experimentation with South or East Asian forms of meditation or pseudo-science
-Emphasis on the humanity of Christ to the point of harming recognition of His divinity.
-A paradoxical combination of moral relativism and moral absolutism, depending on which approach suits their passions.
-No doubt arising from this last error, a vague rejection or minimization of Papal authority, and of Church authority in general, combined with an almost fanatical zeal for obedience to the Church on issues they personally agree with and feel strongly about.

 

[Cojuanco]

Then, of course, is the one where you are a pariah if you commit certain sins, even if forgiven in the confessional. This is believed by quite a few of our separated bretheren, for it stems from the teaching of the heretic Luther on God merely covering the dungheap of our sins wih the snow of forgiveness, instead of obliteratng the dung through confession. Even some Catholics ignorantly believe this, which of course is nothing new.

By this point in time it seems that each new heresy is merel the repackaging of old ones or the rearrangement thereof, like so many Lego bricks.

 

[Ranp]

What exactly are some large modern day heresies? How were they founded? Who lead them? What makes them heretical? How were they refuted?

The modern version of the Gnostic heresy is the New Age movement. Most of the New Age movement is about gaining knowledge so as to be god-like yourself. They talk a lot about God but they never worship God. You will also hear New Agers talk a lot about “wellness”. They seek healing but look to get it from different healing methods rather than from God.

Ran

 

[mlamg]

The modern version of the Gnostic heresy is the New Age movement. Most of the New Age movement is about gaining knowledge so as to be god-like yourself. They talk a lot about God but they never worship God. You will also hear New Agers talk a lot about “wellness”. They seek healing but look to get it from different healing methods rather than from God.

Ran

This is incorrect. Where did you get these ideas from?

 

[GospodiPomiluj]

Relativism is the “synthesis of all heresies.” - Pope Pius X… Just as a side note, the SSPX is heretical, and I think one of the big casualties of that heresy is Pius X himself.

 

[SteveVH]

Originally Posted by Ranp View Post
The modern version of the Gnostic heresy is the New Age movement. Most of the New Age movement is about gaining knowledge so as to be god-like yourself. They talk a lot about God but they never worship God. You will also hear New Agers talk a lot about “wellness”. They seek healing but look to get it from different healing methods rather than from God.

Ran

This is incorrect. Where did you get these ideas from?

Actually, it is not incorrect. The New Age movement is just another face of Gnosticism. It is all based on “secret knowledge” which no one can verify. They are the “enlightened ones”. Rather than looking to heaven, one instead must look into themselves in order to unleash their divine potential. In other words, “I am God”. I have never spoken to anyone more confused than a New Ager. They will basically believe in anything that blows through the air as long as it does not interfere with how they are living their lives; prayer to the “universal energy force”, the “universal stream of consciousness”. When questioned, they have absolutely no idea what they believe. In reality it is nothing more than an excuse to live unfettered by moral law.

 

[SteveVH]

With the exception of the number three, which incidentally I have never encountered in the Catholic Church, this list is pretty Protestant in nature.

I was not under the impression that the OP was limiting heresies to the Catholic Church. We are not talking about individuals, but rather organized faith traditions that have fallen into heresy on one issue or another. I don’t know of any heresies in the Catholic Church or I wouldn’t be Catholic.

I’m not sure that many of the things I and others have listed are actual heresies. A heresy is perpetuating a belief that is contrary to revealed doctrine. While many of the things listed may arise from heresies I’m not sure they can be labeled heresies themselves. Maybe someone more knowledgeable than I can chime in.

 

[drac16]

-The prosperity gospel (taught by guys like Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen and others)

-Annihilationism (believed by Seventh-Day Adventists)

-Countless mormon teachings (they teach that God is an exalted man, God has not always been God, God has a body of flesh and bone, Cain was cursed with black skin and so black people are descendents of Cain, we can become gods by following LDS ordinances, just as the Father attained godhood by following a bunch of ordinances)

 

[mlamg]

Actually, it is not incorrect. The New Age movement is just another face of Gnosticism. It is all based on “secret knowledge” which no one can verify. They are the “enlightened ones”. Rather than looking to heaven, one instead must look into themselves in order to unleash their divine potential. In other words, “I am God”. I have never spoken to anyone more confused than a New Ager. They will basically believe in anything that blows through the air as long as it does not interfere with how they are living their lives; prayer to the “universal energy force”, the “universal stream of consciousness”. When questioned, they have absolutely no idea what they believe. In reality it is nothing more than an excuse to live unfettered by moral law.

No, it’s not correct, it’s your misunderstanding of human nature and the need to find God outside the confines of dogma. You know, many, many people don’t envision God as an old guy who lives in the sky. “Universal energy force” is probably not a bad way to describe God. Not everyone anthropomorphizes God. Just because your tradition does, doesn’t mean it’s correct.

I find nothing heretical about wanting to realize human potential. I think God would want that, too! The things that your religion demonizes are beyond me.

 

[SteveVH]

No, it’s not correct, it’s your misunderstanding of human nature and the need to find God outside the confines of dogma. You know, many, many people don’t envision God as an old guy who lives in the sky.

First of all, please provide any documentation from Catholic writings that would indicate that we believe that God is an old guy who lives in the sky. If you can’t, then please refrain from making such false statements.

Secondly, the topic of this thread is “Modern day heresy”. We are speaking of those beliefs and dogmas that are contrary to Catholic doctrine. New Age, and all that goes with it is contrary to Catholic doctrine. If you would like to start a thread on what would be heretical to the New Age philosophy you are welcome to do that.

“Universal energy force” is probably not a bad way to describe God. Not everyone anthropomorphizes God. Just because your tradition does, doesn’t mean it’s correct.

The Catholic Church states that God is pure, eternal Spirit. Jesus had to take on flesh, he had to become “incarnate” so that he could dwell among us. Even now though, Jesus has a glorified spiritual body. We believe that God is one divine Being in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe that he is “wholly other”, the only divine Being, and the best human description of God can only diminish him because he is beyond our ability to grasp. He is God and you and I are not. He is the Creator and we are his creatures. I don’t know of any human beings that could be described that way, therefore we do not anthropomorphize God.

I find nothing heretical about wanting to realize human potential.

Nor do I. The difference is that I believe that we cannot realize our human potential until it is realized in Christ. It is God who created us and it is God that gives us life. It is only through surrender to God that we become truly human.

I think God would want that, too! The things that your religion demonizes are beyond me.

And what might those things be? Before you answer, please do a little homework and make sure that what you believe we demonize is actually what we believe. So far it is evident that you know next to nothing about Catholicism.