Heresy and Accusation of Heresy in Christian Thought

Abstract

This research deals with the concept of heresy and its synonyms in Christian thought, such as heterodoxy and blasphemy, and clarifies its meanings by referring to the linguistic and Christian dictionaries. It also tries to find out the roots of ruling on the dissentients with heterodoxy and falling into heresy, and conjuring the texts of the two covenants: the old and the new, which included those words and verdicts. Moreover, it also deals with and presents the most famous ecclesiastical councils and the decisions and rulings issued by them from the cursing, expulsion and deprivation on many of those who violate the beliefs of the churches that were adopted by those councils. In addition, the research also deals with the most prominent negative effects of accusing others of infidelity, heresy, and heterodoxy, and monitors some of the facts and events that took place and had a great impact on Christian thought and the future of the Church.

I followed the descriptive-analytical and inductive approaches in this research.

I reached a number of results, the most important of which are:

Characterizing others as heretic and the culture of hatred in the Christian history started early, and resulted in many consequences, most prominently:

1- Killing and slaughtering people, via issuing execution verdicts, and burning people alive.

2- Wars and battles between the Christian sects themselves, and with their opponents of other religions.