Heresy is Easy

What is a heresy? A heresy is a false doctrine opposed to the orthodox Catholic Faith. By “orthodox,” small letter “o,” is meant the traditional Catholic Faith; it does not refer to the capital “O” Orthodox churches, which are not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church (the one which believes in the primacy of the Pope). Heresies often arise from a distortion of or a misuse or misunderstanding of true Catholic doctrine. At the heart of Islam, for example, is the Catholic doctrine of the omnipotence of God. The difference here is that Islam denies the Holy Trinity and thus the divinity of Jesus Christ.

The Church differentiates formal heresy from material heresy. Formal heresy involves the willful and obstinate denial of a divinely revealed truth that is explicitly taught by the Church. This means that the person who commits formal heresy is aware that their belief is contrary to the Church's teaching and yet they continue to hold it despite this knowledge. Here are some examples of formal heresy: denying the divinity of Jesus Christ; denying the Trinity; advocating for the practice of contraception or abortion.

Formal heresy is considered a serious sin because it directly contradicts the teachings of God and the Church. It is a rejection of the truth that has been revealed to us through divine revelation and Sacred Tradition. As such, it is a barrier to salvation and can lead to excommunication from the Church.

Not all disagreements with Church doctrine constitute formal heresy. If a person's belief is based on genuine misunderstanding or lack of knowledge, then they may not be guilty of formal heresy. However, if they are aware of the Church's teaching and persist in their denial, then they are considered to be in a state of formal heresy.

The Church takes the issue of heresy very seriously, and it has developed a complex system of procedures for dealing with those who are accused of it. These procedures are designed to ensure that justice is served and that the truth of the Gospel is upheld.

Material heresy, also known as simple material heresy, is the erroneous holding of a belief that is contrary to Church teaching, but without full knowledge or willful denial. This means that the person who commits material heresy may be unaware of the Church's teaching, or they may have misunderstood it. They may also be genuinely struggling to reconcile their own beliefs with the Church's teaching.

In summary, the key difference between formal heresy and material heresy is the level of knowledge and intent. Formal heresy requires willful and obstinate denial, while material heresy can be due to ignorance or misunderstanding. Material heresy, due to the lack of full awareness or intention, isn't considered a sin. However, both formal and material heresy can lead to spiritual harm and separation from the Church's full communion. The Church encourages those in material heresy to seek proper instruction and guidance to correct their understanding and align their beliefs with Church doctrine.

The distinction between formal heresy and material heresy is not always clear-cut. In some cases, it may be difficult to determine whether a person's belief is due to willful denial or genuine misunderstanding. In these cases, the Church will typically use a process of dialogue and instruction to help the person come to a better understanding of the faith.

Why is heresy so easy? It begins with a question which seems natural, the answer to which is sought through human wisdom alone without recourse to Divine Wisdom. How to find Divine Wisdom? Wisdom is sought in Sacred Scripture and in the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, known also as Tradition.

Mysteries in the Church are, by definition, not accessible by human reason alone. Divine revelation instructs us to some extent, but we reach a point when our intellects fail and we rely on faith alone – in other words: God said it, so I believe it. This is also how some heresies arise: people are scandalized by the Truth and cannot humble themselves to receive the Truth without fully understanding it. Yet we must keep in mind our relationship as creature to Creator. He is omniscient, omnipotent, and ubiquitous, and we are not. We are beings and He is what it is to be. He is above and beyond time and space, for He created them. We are limited by time and space, for we are created. Come to the mysteries of the Church with some humility and you will be able to accept these mysteries without demanding complete comprehension.

Some heresies are Christological – that is, they relate to our understanding of Jesus Christ. Many heresies have arisen from misunderstandings about the nature of Jesus, especially in His Incarnation and the Redemption He bought for us at the price of the Paschal Mystery. It is thanks to such heresies that great Councils of the Church were convened, so that the bishops and Popes could seek the Truth to refute the heresies. We have papal documents and a Creed fashioned in response to such heresies and the concordant Councils.

There are different kinds of papal documents with diverse intended audiences, which carry various authoritative weights. The strongest papal document is the Dogmatic Constitution, intended for all Catholics throughout the world as it teaches on faith and morals and defines Catholic doctrines and dogmas. Dogmatic Constitutions, coming from the Pope and the Magisterium usually via a Council, are considered infallible, and therefore unchangeable. There are papal bulls, so called because of the leaden seal (the bulla) which sealed the document and attested to the authenticity of the document as coming from the Pope. Papal bulls are rare, saved for weighty topics such as the excommunication of Martin Luther.

Decretals are letters from the Pope concerning church law; while important, they do not greatly impact everyday Catholics. Papal encyclicals are letters to the bishops, sometimes dealing with faith and morals; bishops are expected to share these encyclicals with their congregations.

Glossary

Apostasy - rejecting the entirety of the Faith after Baptism

Blasphemy - speaking ill against God or claiming to be God

Canonical - belonging to Sacred Scripture. The criteria for determining the canonical status of a book of Sacred Scripture:

1.     Apostolic - the validity and authority of the book was recognized by the Apostles

2.     Acceptance by the early churches

3.     Conformity with Divine Revelation

Church Council - assembly of the bishops of the world and the Pope to discuss matters of doctrine, morals, and the Faith, defending the Truth and condemning error

Decretal - a papal letter formulating ecclesiastical law

Dogmatic Constitution - The highest form of papal teaching in the Roman Catholic Church, issued by the pope in the name of an ecumenical council, and they are considered to be infallible and irreformable. Dogmatic constitutions are typically used to define or clarify matters of faith or doctrine.

Heresy - a false doctrine opposed to the orthodox Faith; an obstinate denial or willful doubt of a revealed Truth.

Papal Bull – An official document issued by a Pope, named for the leaden seal (bulla) which showed its authenticity as coming from the Pope. Can range from pronouncements on doctrinal matters to appointments of bishops or other officials. A famous example of a papal bull is Exsurge domine (1520): this bull condemned the writings of Martin Luther and excommunicated him from the Catholic Church.

Papal Encyclical - A letter addressed by the pope to the bishops of the Catholic Church. It is a formal document that is typically used to address matters of doctrine, morality, or social policy. Encyclicals are usually written in Latin, and they are often named after their opening words (the incipit). A famous example of a papal encyclical is Rerum novarum (1891), which addressed the issue of labor and social justice. It is considered to be a founding document of Catholic social teaching. Another famous example is Humana Vitae (1968): This encyclical reaffirmed the Catholic Church's teaching on contraception. It was highly controversial, and it led to a great deal of debate within the Church.

Papal Primacy - the Pope holds “full and supreme jurisdiction over the universal Church, not only in things which belong to faith and morals, but also those which relate to the discipline and government of the Church…he therefore possesses…all the fullness of this supreme power.” (First Vatican Council, 1869-70)

Pauline Principle - “unbelief and subsequent refusal to cohabit peacefully with your spouse is equal to contempt of the Creator; and contempt of the Creator dissolves the laws of marriage.” This concerns a pagan/pagan marriage; if one spouse converts to Christianity and the pagan spouse refuses to “cohabit peacefully” with the Christian, the marriage is dissolved.

Schism - separation from the Pope in matters of doctrine and morals, or Faith

Senses of Scripture - means by which Sacred Scripture can be understood

1.     Literal sense - the plain meaning of the word; that which the words signify (arms of God, mouth of God); or the reporting of historical events as they occurred. Only the literal sense can support or destroy a dogma. (AAH p17)

2.     Spiritual/mystical senses:

a.      Anagogical/Allegorical - foreshadowing Jesus Christ

b.     Moral/tropological - lessons on how we are to follow Jesus Christ

c.      Eschatalogical - pointing to eternal beatitude with Jesus Christ

Synecdoche - a word or phrase where one thing stands for many, or a part represents the whole (“all Jerusalem” was distraught with Herod; Jesus’ lament over “Jerusalem,” meaning the Chosen People throughout history)

Synod - “seeing together” - a gathering of Churchmen to discuss matters of the Faith in which the pope is “one among equals” rather than one directing the bishops at the Synod.

Introduction: Definition of the word “heresy”

1.     See Against all Heresies, pages 1-4

2.     See The Great Heresies, pages 6-11

Who is a heretic?

1.     A baptized Catholic who opposes, corrupts, or obstinately denies some article of the Faith and holds fast to that denial or opposition. Non-Catholics cannot be heretics.

2.     One who recants, or “palinodes” (AAH p 59) is no longer a heretic.

3.     One who merely questions an article of Faith with the intention of learning more deeply about the Faith is not a heretic.

Causes from which heresies arise

1.     Immoderate love of oneself AAH p 69 - covetous, haughty, proud, blasphemers p 70

2.     Desire for glory, to be considered “learned” AAH p 70

3.     Deception of judgment; defective judgment; an ill-formed or unformed conscience

4.     The vice particular to the heretic; every man has an inclination to certain vices AAH p 76

5.     Media through which vices are celebrated and virtues mocked; corrupt doctrines are asserted; familiarity with evil (media) paves the way for evil deeds AAH p 81

6.     Misplaced and overly harsh zeal, as Luther against the clergy AAH p 84

7.     Negligence of Church authorities and clergy who fails to see and rectify heresy

8.     Lack of preaching the Gospel - those who do not feed on the Word of God will be fed by the bread of heretics

9.     Ignorance of Scripture and/or Tradition and failure to turn to the Church for enlightenment

10. “Every departure from Catholic doctrine is essentially an error about the Incarnation.”

Historical timeline and framework of the five broad heresies:

1.     Arian - denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ; fasting was of no value and is not proven by Sacred Scripture, Tradition, or miracles

2.     Islam - came from outside the Church geographically and threatened to kill her

3.     Albigensianism - gnostic, dualistic; good and evil are equal forces striving against the other; matter is evil, pleasure is either evil or to be embraced, as the body will die and rot anyway; that only the spirit/soul is good. Therefore, sin with your body but be pure in your soul

4.     Protestantism - denied the unity of the Church; that she is One, visible, definable institution established by Christ and endowed with His authority; denies the Truth claim by the Church; individuals are free to make their own doctrines.

5.     Modernism - takes many forms: only that which can be proven experimentally is real; if it feels good, do it; denies God’s self-revelation as a “Trinity of divine and consubstantial Persons;” relativism – “my truth” and “your truth” rather than “the objective Truth.”

How to recognize heretics

1.     Attempt to appear holy and pious but have no true humility

2.     Teach new doctrines which do not benefit the People of God

3.     Excessive liberty of making pronouncements - they speak off the cuff immoderately

4.     Attacks or mocks those who try to recall him from his error

How to refute heresies

1.     Begin from the first principle of the inerrancy of Sacred Scripture as defined by the Catholic Church at the Third Synod of Carthage (390s), at the Council of Florence (1442), and at the Fourth Session of the Council of Trent, 1546

2.     Use the literal sense of the canonical books of Scripture

3.     The true interpretation of Sacred Scripture pertains to the Church alone

4.     Sacred Tradition can refute heresies

a.      John 21:25 all the books in the world could not hold all of what Jesus said and did

b.     2 Thes 2:14 stand fast and hold to the traditions whether in writing or orally

c.      Jesus established the Church and upholds her with His authority

d.     Augustine: Tradition is held throughout the world either instituted by the Apostles or by church councils (bishops are the successors of the Apostles)

5.     Use the definitions of Church Councils

Why God permits heresies: so that the faithful will “shake off our sluggishness and long to know the Divine Scriptures.” (St. Augustine, On Genesis Against the Manichaeans)

Why Modernism is the “synthesis of all heresies” (Pope Pius X, 1907 Papal Encyclical Pascendi Dominici gregis)

Other heresies which branched out from these five main heresies:

Adalbert 700s - claimed to have special powers given to him by an angel, and that people did not need to confess since he already knew their sins and that their sins were already forgiven.

Adamites - second century - called their sect “Paradise,” claiming that they had regained the original innocence of Adam; their worship services were held nude; marriage banned as foreign to Eden

Donatus - Donatism 355 - efficacy of the Sacraments depends upon the minister; the Church was limited to their sect alone

Henry of Lausanne - 1100s - denied transubstantiation; opposed prayers for the dead;  invocation of the saints; consecration of oils; celibacy; pilgrimages; and feast days.

Flagellants - gnostic - matter=bad; spirit=good; severe corporeal penitential practices

Jansenism - efficacy of the Sacraments depends upon the minister AND the perfection of the spiritual life of the recipient.

Marcionism - gnostic: there are two gods - the false, mean god of the OT and the True, good God of the NT

Mani 216-274 Manichaeism - duality of nature, that good and evil are equal powers, gnostic

Modalism - a Trinitarian heresy, that the One God is One Person who appears in different “modes” of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Monophysicism - Christ had one Nature

Monothelitism - Christ had one Will

Montanist - denied that sins committed after Baptism could be forgiven

Nestorianism - claim that Jesus had one nature but two Persons

Novatus and Novatian - denied fellowship in the Church to those who through fear of persecution denied Christ

Pantheism - the belief that everything is God - not made by God, but really IS God

Pelagius - Pelagianism 390-419 - denied Original Sin and the necessity of grace for salvation

Protestants: Calvin, John; Luther, Martin; Hus, John; Melancthon; Wycliffe, John [denial of transubstantiation, sola scriptura]; Zwingli, Ulrich

Relativism - that all religions wield equal moral authority; that there is no objective Truth

Sabellius - a 3rd-century Christian theologian and priest from Libya who taught in Rome. He is best known for his doctrine of modalism, which is a form of unitarianism that denies the plurality of persons in God.

Scotus, Clement - 745 - OT over NT, including marrying your brother’s widow to raise children

Sedevacantism - the belief that the See of Peter, the Papal Throne, has been vacant since the beginning of the Second Vatican Council; therefore, the last valid pope was John XXIII

Syncretism - a blending of true religion and pagan or superstitious beliefs

Terelupini - 1300s in France - they are perfect and therefore cannot sin no matter what they do - everything they do is perfect and correct (even if it is manifestly wrong)

Ultramontanism - the belief that the Pope cannot err on any matter whatsoever

Vigilantius 370 - opposed veneration of relics, sending alms to Jerusalem, vow of poverty, and the value of virginity

Alphabetical Heresies:

Activism – denies divine intervention; believes that the Church’s mission is to improve only the temporal welfare of Man. The Son of Man did not come to establish an earthly kingdom.

Adamites - Adamites were a radical Christian sect that emerged in North Africa in the 2nd century AD. They believed that nudity was essential for achieving spiritual purity and that the Garden of Eden was a state of grace in which humans lived naked and unashamed. The Adamites rejected all forms of social organization and authority, including marriage and government. They also believed that sexual intercourse was a sacred act that could be performed with anyone, regardless of gender or relationship status. Adamites were condemned as heretics by the early Church, and they were eventually suppressed. However, their ideas continued to circulate in underground movements throughout the Middle Ages. The Adamites were revived in the 18th century by the German philosopher Johann Adam Müller, who argued that nudity was a natural state that should be embraced by all humans. Müller's ideas were influential among the nudist movement of the early 20th century.

Adoptionism – a heresy about the Incarnation which denies the divine Nature and Personhood of Jesus

Agnosticism – arises from religious indifferentism; views God’s plan and existence as uncertain

Albigensianism - gnostic, dualistic; good and evil are equal forces striving against the other; matter is evil, pleasure is either evil or to be embraced, as the body will die and rot anyway; that only the spirit/soul is good. Therefore, sin with your body but be pure in your soul

Anabaptism – denies the necessity of Infant Baptism for salvation

Animism – pagan worship of Creation rather than the Creator; believes that everything is God, that God is not distinct from His Creation

Annihiltationism – the claim that the wicked are destroyed after death

Anthropocentrism – a self-referential error that man exists simply for his own sake rather than because of the Will of God

Antinominalism – claims that Christians are exempt from the moral law

Apokatastis – belief that all people and demons will be saved at the end of time

Apollinarism – denial of Jesus’ human soul

Arianism and Macedonianism – 4th century heresies denying the divinity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Believed that Jesus was the first and most perfect creature which had come forth from God, but He was not God. Through Him, the world was created. They called Him the “Demiurge.”

Atheists – arises from religious indifferentism; denies the existence of God and therefore the existence of life after death

Baianism – Michael Baius claimed that the exaltation of human nature into the partnership of the Divine nature was due to the integrity of the original condition of human nature, i.e. without sin, endowed with supernatural, sanctifying grace; hence it must be called nature, not super-nature. This original infusion of Divine grace makes man’s free cooperation with grace impossible or unnecessary.

Buddhism, Hinduism, pantheism, environmental idolatry, ecological mysticism, Earth-goddess rituals – reject the simplicity and unity of God independent of His creation. These errors give Divine honor to inanimate objects and confuse the created with the Creator. Some seek the assistance of demons or occult powers to gain secret knowledge or exercise control. Buddhism rejects the Incarnation, Paschal Mystery, and Redemption. Hindus, rather than worshipping the one True God, adore a pantheon of spirits.

Calvinism – Believes with Lutherans that Divine grace imposes itself on man so that man can do a good work, but that man left to his own nature is completely corrupt and unable to do anything other than evil. Man’s will is free only to sin and abhors good works. Denies the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Began Communion in the hand to show their disdain for transubstantiation and for Holy Orders. Believes in double Predestination; that is, that some people are destined for Heaven and others are destined v     to be eternally damned. Is Iconoclastic.

Conciliarism – limits papal authority by the authority of the bishops gathered in a council

Consequentialism – declares all actions to be good if the intention is good, regardless of the objective act or the outcome.

Deism – denies the existence or possibility of Divine revelation

Determinists – believe that human acts are determined by pre-existing causes (e.g., the stars) such that man is not responsible for his own actions – denial of free will

Docetism – a gnostic heresy which denies Jesus’ human body

Donatism – ministers must be in the state of grace and have the “true faith” in order for sacraments he administers to be valid. This heresy mistakes the minister for Jesus Christ, through whom all sacraments flow; He endows the sacraments with grace. For sacraments to be valid, the minister must have the intention to do what the Church does when administering the sacraments.

Emotivism – an atheistic heresy which denies objective Truth and objective morality; an action is wrong if it makes you “feel” wrong; otherwise, do as you please. It is also known as the “hurrah/boo” theory – if an action makes you want to shout, “Hurrah!”, then it is right for you. If it makes you want to intone, “Boo!”, then it is wrong for you.

Episcopelianism  - Claims that the college of bishops has universal jurisdiction and teaching authority over the Church, with the pope being “first among equals.”

Freemasonry – a gnostic, pantheistic heresy – belief in “self-salvation” and a “temple of humanity” apart from God – belief in the bisexuality of the Deity, defined as the “Fire Principle” or “Lucifer.” Believes in a universal religion based on human fraternity apart from the grace of God. They are strenuously opposed to the cloistered religious life.

Gaianism – worship of nature and pagan deities; named for the Greek nature goddess Gaia.

Gallicanism – Claims that the college of bishops has universal jurisdiction and teaching authority over the Church, with the pope being “first among equals.” Subjects the pope to civil authority.

Gender ideology/gender theory – a gnostic, dualistic error which denies the reality of our binary human sexuality. God is not a God of disorder.

Gnosticism – a cult of secret knowledge which is dualistic; good and evil are equal forces striving against the other; matter is evil, pleasure is either evil or to be embraced, as the body will die and rot anyway; that only the spirit/soul is good. Therefore, sin with your body but be pure in your soul. Some gnostics believe that an evil god made matter and a good God made spirits. Gnostics denied that Jesus had a human Body, as God would not want to be sullied with such an evil thing as the body. The New Age movement is gnostic as the practitioners claim to have exalted knowledge of God. Freemasonry is gnostic as well, guarding its secret knowledge and believing in the bisexuality of the supreme deity. Scientology is gnostic.

Gradualism  - claims that Man can gradually become holier even while knowingly in the state of mortal sin

Hans Urs von Balthasarists -  belief that Hell is empty of souls

Hinduism – rejection of the simplicity and unity of God independent of His creation. These errors give Divine honor to inanimate objects and confuse the created with the Creator. Hindus, rather than worshipping the one True God, adore a pantheon of spirits.

Iconoclasm – destruction of statues, stained glass windows, and portrayals of saints and angels

Indifferentism – the belief that all religions are equally valid and all are channels of grace; rejects the divine plan and the Redemption; contradicts Jesus’ words: “No man comes to the Father but through Me.”

Islam – denial of God’s self-revelation as a “Trinity of divine and consubstantial Persons;” denial of the Incarnation and the Paschal Mystery; view Jesus as a prophet, but deny His Divinity; promise of sensual joys after death; allows polygamy; taught fatalism. Did away with the Sacraments and therefore, of priests, as well. Did away with the Mass.

Islam, contemporary Judaism (aka Talmudic or Rabbinic Judaism), Unitarian sects, and Modernism – all deny God’s self-revelation as a “Trinity of divine and consubstantial Persons”

Jansenism – With Calvin and Luther, believes that Divine grace imposes itself on man so that man can do a good work, but that man left to his own nature is completely corrupt and unable to do anything other than evil. Man’s will is free only to sin and abhors good works; wanted to simplify the Mass.

Judaizing – Christians who practice Jewish ceremonies which have been fulfilled and superseded by Jesus

Liberalism/Liberty of perdition  - man has absolute right to do anything at all and ought not to be constrained by any authority, whether ecclesial or civil. Asserts that the Divine law is an ideal which is impossible to obey in the “lived experience” of Catholics.

LGBTQ+ - a gnostic heresy which denies God-given sexual dimorphism; rejects traditional Catholic marriage and intact nuclear family, which ought to reflect the love of Jesus for His Church; encourages sins against chastity and modesty. It is gravely sinful to mutilate your God-given body with chemicals or surgery. Most suffer from grave delusions in their revolt against God; they need our earnest prayers.

Luther, Martin – Believed that man is corrupt and damned through and through, body and soul, so that there exists no spiritual powers in man at all. Man possesses a twisted intellect and a will hostile and opposed to God, willing nothing but that which is contrary to God’s Will. Luther claimed that man is absolutely powerless to do anything good; that man does nothing but evil unless God intervenes, imposing His grace on man to move him to do a good work. Man is therefore passive and incapable of doing good works on his own; he has no free will except to do that which is evil. Believed in consubstantiation, that Jesus exists in the Eucharist only during Holy Communion and that He exists with the substances of bread and wine.

Macedonianism – 4th century heresy denying the divinity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit; claimed that the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father alone.

Magic – seeks the aid of demons to control people or things or to acquire secret knowledge. This is a sin of superstition, which is one of the most serious sins one can commit. It offers worship to one other than God, or worships God in the wrong manner. Since worship is our highest calling and moral obligation, we must ensure that we worship rightly.

Magisterial positivism – claims that every word from a pope or bishop is absolutely infallible and the faithful are to blindly obey

Manicheanism – a dualistic, gnostic heresy from Mani, a 3rd century prophet, which teaches an elaborate dualistic cosmology describing the struggle between a good, spiritual world of light, and an evil, material world of darkness. This worldview is expressed in the Manichaean concept of the two principles, or the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. The light, which is the embodiment of goodness and purity, was invaded by the darkness, resulting in the creation of the material world. This invasion is seen as the source of all evil and suffering in the universe. Mani is regarded as the savior, or "Apostle of Light," who was sent to Earth to reveal the true nature of the universe and teach humans how to escape the cycle of reincarnation and return to the realm of light. Salvation in Manichaeism is achieved through asceticism, which involves abstaining from certain foods, avoiding sexual activity, and engaging in charitable acts. It is also attained through gnosis, or spiritual knowledge, which is gained through the study of Mani's teachings and through personal revelation.

Materialists – deny the existence of the human soul, that we are matter only; therefore, denial of life after death; denial of even the possibility of Divine revelation. Desire to limit suffering and inconvenience leads to a Culture of Death: abortion, infanticide, euthanasia.

Modalism – a form of unitarianism that denies the plurality of persons in God. It claims that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three distinct persons, but rather three different modes or aspects of the one God.

Modernists – deny that the Sacraments confer grace and are not the ordinary means of grace and salvation; Sacramental Rites are unnecessary. Reject God’s self-revelation as a Trinity of Persons within the one True God. Deny some article of Faith which Christians are bound to obey. Pope Pius X called Modernism “the synthesis of all heresies,” hence, it is one of the worst heresies.

Monophysites – deny Jesus’ two Natures – believe that His divine Nature absorbed His human Nature

Monothelitism – deny Jesus’ human will – believe that He had only a divine Will

Montanism – falsely taught that God is a God of confusion; doubted the Holy Spirit; exchanged the Truth for lies and emotions. Believed in the ordination of women to the diaconate. Emphasized worship that is charismatic, demonstrative, sentimental, and irrational. Combines traditional worship with novel, emotive worship. When you equate worship with sentiments, you can fall away from the Faith during times of dryness in prayer. Prayer must be for God and for others, not just for you to feel good.

Moral liberalism – claims that the Ten Commandments are an impossible ideal

Naturalism – Denial of the supernatural order; belief that man and nature are self-sufficient. Denial of God’s self-revelation and pedagogy. Belief that Divine grace is unnecessary. This heresy lies at the root of the heresy of Freemasonry, which is irreconcilable with the Faith. Seeks to reform the Church into an NGO for humanitarian aid without God.

New Age - This gnostic error gives Divine honor to inanimate objects in the worship of nature and confuses the created with the Creator. It seeks the assistance of demons or occult powers to gain secret knowledge or exercise control. This movement gives rise to yoga, Reiki, and transcendental meditation, all of which seek to plunge the user into absolute nothingness; the superstition underlying Reiki distorts true worship of God.

Nestorians – claim that Jesus had one nature but two Persons

Novatianism – was a Christian sect that emerged in the 3rd century AD. It was founded by Novatian, a Roman priest who was elected antipope in 251 AD. Novatianism was a reaction to the policies of Pope Cornelius, who was seen as too lenient in his treatment of Christians who had lapsed during persecution.

Novatian believed that lapsed Christians could not be re-admitted to the Church, and that those who had committed apostasy were beyond forgiveness. He also believed that the Church should be a strict and pure community, and that those who had sinned should be excluded from its fellowship. Novatianism was declared a heresy by the Church in 256 AD, but it continued to exist for several centuries. It was eventually suppressed.

Novatianism was considered a heresy because it denied the possibility of repentance and forgiveness for serious sins; it rejected the authority of the Church to forgive sins; and it promoted a vision of the Church as a strict and exclusive community.

Paganism – an error with regard to nature which gives rise to errors in knowledge of God. Pagans are generally polytheistic. Pagans have either never been exposed to the Church or have turned against the teachings of the Church. Paganism is increasing today as the “nones.”

Pantheism – rejects the simplicity and unity of God independent of His creation; believes that every part of creation is Divine.

Pelagianism – denies the existence of Original Sin and the necessity of Divine grace. Neo-Pelagianism says that man can be saved by his deeds alone, done without the aid of grace.

Pentecostalism – “Charismatic movement” or “renewal in the Spirit” which emphasizes emotional, demonstrative worship; it relies too much on spiritual gifts, or charisms, and lacks the humility to persevere in worship despite dryness. It combines traditional worship with irrational and superstitious phenomena. Basing worth on experience and emotion, it undermines the need for the Sacraments. While their hearts are burning within them, their demeanor ought to be one of “sober inebriation” rather than wild gesticulating and speaking in tongues.

Polygenism – denies that all men descended from Adam and Eve

Polytheism – denies the One True God; believes in the existence of many gods

Positivism – only things which can be appreciated by the senses or discovered through repeated experimentation is true; there is no objective Truth and certainly no metaphysical Truth.

Proportionalism - asserts that one can determine the right course of action by weighing up the good and the necessary evil caused by the action. As a result, proportionalism aims to choose the lesser of evils.

Protestantism – Asserts that private judgment is infallible in the area of faith and morals; denial of the existence of Purgatory; denial that the Sacraments confer grace; diminishment of the number of the Sacraments instituted by Christ; any person can administer any Sacrament; denial that the Sacraments imprint a character upon the soul; mockery of the Sacraments and Rites of the Catholic Church. Denial of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Denies the need for ritual sacrifice. Errors about the Redemption and the application of its fruits (justification) apart from our cooperation with grace. Belief that the Church is an invisible association of men rather than a visible Body of Christ.

Rabbinic or Talmudic Judaism – holds that the Mosaic Law is sufficient for salvation; does not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

Reincarnation/rebirth/transmigration – believes that the soul begins a new life in a new body after the death of one body

Relativism – arises from religious indifferentism; each person is the arbiter of Truth; denies Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life; denies eternal reward or punishment; denies objective moral law; rejects all moral absolutes.

Satanism – the worship of the fallen angel, Lucifer, and his angels; the refusal to worship the one True God.

Transgenderism – a gnostic error that the human body is manipulatable and dispensable, not God-given and holy; it is contrary to natural and Divine law and is gravely sinful; it is a revolt against God.

Transhumanism – a gnostic error: man’s attempt to negate his situation as a creature, to elevate himself by manipulating nature through technology (cryonics, cloning, human-animal hybrids, genetic engineering) – wanting to be like God but without grace

Unitarianism – denial of the Trinity

Universalism – claims that all people go to Heaven regardless of the conduct of their life

Zwingli – Denied the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

Christological heresies: Apollinarism, Arianism, docetism, macedonianism, Monophysitism, Monothelitism, Nestorianism, Zwingli.

Gnostic heresies: Adalbert, Albigensianism, docetism, Flagellants, freemasonry, gender ideology/gender theory, Transgenderism, transhumanism, marcionism, Manichaeism, materialists, New Age.

Incarnational heresies: Activism, Adamites, adoptionism, Buddhism, Docetism, freemasonry, gender ideology/gender theory (LGBTQ+), Henry of Lausanne, pantheism, Rebirth, reincarnation, transmigration, Vigilantius,

Modernist heresies: Emotivism; iconoclasm, liberalism, Lutheran, magic, modernists, positivism, proportionalism, relativism, sedevacantism, ultramontanism, universalism.

Redemption/Salvation heresies: Anabaptism, annihilationism, antinomialism, apokatastis, Buddhism, determinism, Donatism, gradualism, Hans Urs von Baltharism, indifferentism, Jansenism, montanism, naturalism, Novatianism, Pelagianism, pentecostalism, Protestantism, Clement of Scotus, Terelupini.

Religious heresies: Agnosticism, animism, anthropocentrism, atheism, Buddhism, conciliarism, consequentialism, Deism, Earth-goddess rituals, ecological mysticism, environmental idolary, Episcopelianism, Gaianism, Gallicanism, Hinduism, Judaizing, magisterial positivism, moral liberalism, syncretism, paganism, polygenism, polytheism.

Trinitarian heresies: Arianism, Islam, macedonianism, modalism, polytheism, sabellianism, Talmudic or Rabbinic Judaism, Unitarians.

Sources:

Augustine of Hippo, De Trinitate (see Preface liii)

Belloc, Hilaire “The Great Heresies” Wilder Publications, Radford, VA 2008

Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, 1992, Vatican Press

De Castro, Alfonso, OFM “Against All Heresies” Dolorosa Press, Camillus, NY 2021

Pope Pius X, Pascendi Dominici Gregis, 1907 Vatican Press

Schneider, Athanasius (Bishop), Credo,  2023, Sophia Institute Press, Manchester, NH