Heresy: Protestant Style

In reading Richard E Rubenstein's When Jesus Became God, I was struck as a 21st century reader on the passions of what was called heresy. The Roman emperors had both sides exiled and what one Godly man did to another in the name of heresy is shocking to today's sensibilities.

Our friend Batko uses the term heterodox, which is not a term I've heard before. What is heresy? It is a majority rule, blowing in the political breeze statement of belief that goes against the established belief system of a church making every denomination heretical to every other denomination. As Batko has pointed out several times, there are 30,000 Christian denominations in the world, making the term heretical or heresy practically useless.

Today, passion about Coronavirus protection is akin to religious heresy. Coronavirus was first deemed by the WHO as not transferrable between humans. Then, you don't have to wear a mask but should wear gloves. Then you don't have to wear gloves as it does not transmit on surfaces. Not coincidently, now that masks are available, you should wear a mask. Then masks became mandatory. Now Dr. Deborah Birx says you should wear a mask at home. At every step, doing only what was expected in the previous step is heretical. You cannot operate a business with a mask but can protest without a mask. In 2020 America, people have literally killed each other over these heresies! Other have been arrested.

Steve Cioccolanti came up with a much more practical meaning of heresy in one of his videos and cautioned against using the term lightly. He said heresy is A teaching that goes against the path of salvation. So, a belief of mine that Jesus died on Wednesday would be an example of a belief that is not heresy using Cioccolanti's standard. Worshipping on Saturday compared to Sunday is another example that is not heresy.

Other examples is the differences of when Easter is celebrated between the Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, accepting one person as the highest authority on religion or 5 or no one. By contrast, one of the surprising official reasons Joan of Arc was burned at the stake was the heresy of her wearing pants (in her capacity as a military liaison). So, what is your take on this idea by Cioccolanti of heresy?

In these matters, all must reach their own conclusions and satisfy their own minds.
Romans 14:5 (VOICE)

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Heresy: Protestant Style