medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
You see my problem. I am reviewing a book about 1204 that makes reference
to "schismatics and heretics." Ordinarily I feel I have a pretty good grip
on 1204, but the phrase made me feel a bit wobbly.
DW
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
> Good day, eh?
>
> You asked:
> > How would you distinguish between schismatics and heretics?
>
> The quick and dirty answer is "Very carefully".
>
> In modern times, and I suggest among many
> theologians of the middle ages, a heretic is
> one whose confessed belief is at such variance
> from orthodoxy as to result in the loss of his
> eternal salvation.
>
> Immediately you see the problem. Who or what
> defined "orthodoxy"? Vincent of Lerins said it
> is what the Church has always and everywhere
> taught. This definition has its own set of problems.
>
> A schismatic is one whose confessed belief,
> while not damning in and of itself, is such as
> to bring about disharmony and open discord
> and division within the Church. And once more
> problems leap to mind. When one proclaims
> a doctrine at variance with what is at least
> locally accepted, the local ecclesiastical
> authorities proclaim his deviation, he refuses
> to recant, and many locals follow him out
> of the established local ecclesiology, who has
> brought about the division: the one proclaiming
> the doctrine at deviance from locally received
> truth or those who have excommunicated him?
> The answer to that question would seem to have
> much to do with who then wears the label of a
> schismatic.
>
> You ask a question that for us dogmaticians is
> worth several pages of serious discussion. I
> dare say the same may be said for our predecessors
> in the middle ages. I hope you have provoked
> a discussion that will deal with the matter far
> more astutely than have I in this brief response.
>
> Cordially,
> Frank
>
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