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Heresy: A History of Defending the Truth
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"A penetrating examination by an intellectual powerhouse."--Booklist
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In Heresy, McGrath presents the fascinating story of heresy throughout Christian history and sheds light on those shunned beliefs and their consistent appeal today. McGrath's provocative thesis is that the categories of heresy and orthodoxy must be preserved by the church today. Jesus certainly presented one message in contrast to another. Tracing back to Jesus those messages that, in our best estimation, are faithful to Jesus' mission is still the task of the church despite increasingly popular cries that these practices are outdated and restrict freedom. 'This is an extremely important book . . . We must equip our people with the historical knowledge they need to discern that fad theologies and current challenges to our faith are merely regurgitated heresies from the past.' Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, from the Foreword. 'Not only a riveting story of ancient controversies, but also a much needed and timely correction to the commonly held notion that heretics were mostly freethinkers who challenged a narrow and closed orthodoxy.' Justo L. Gonzalez, author of The Story of Christianity
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30 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
One of the more productive evangelical theologians in anglicanism, Professor Alister McGrath of King's College, London, has recently published a helpful summary of Christian heresies and their history. The book is, as usual with McGrath, well-written, in a fluid and clear style. There is a lot of value for your money in the amount of information and reflection which McGrath manages to condense into a relatively short book (282 pages). Heresy will be helpful reading to anyone in thrall to Dan Brown and the DaVinci Code, with its facile and ignorant statements about Church History. There are, however, two short-comings which emerge at closer range. Even though McGrath takes on a crucial task in theology today, i.e to burst the bubble of our current infatuation with heresy and the widespread disenchantment with Orthodoxy, his interaction with specific heresies is at times lacking in depth and sensitivity. A gracious and fair accuracy in describing heretical movements has on occasion been sacrificed in order to cover more ground. The second defect is that McGrath seems to perceive Orthodoxy as a theological given, a legacy from the Christian past, rather than as an open-ended goal which our theological conversations and contributions strive towards. In McGrath's universe, heresies have rightly been refuted and rejected: end of story. In this context, it might be helpful to adopt the methodological stance of Karl Barth, which is quite different: that any heresy is only relatively heretical; that the Final Word has yet to be spoken on the unfortunate losers of dogmatic battles; that heresiarchs like Marcion, Arius, Nestorius and Pelagius remain as important to the task of theology as our most revered church fathers, as we never know just who might provide a liberating insight for our own reflection, and that we are not asked to perform the Last Judgment on one another. In doing so, we close a door that should have remained open, and silence living voices which ought to be heard, for the benefit of both humanity and church(see Protestant Theology in the Nineteenth Century, page 9).
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
In his introduction, McGrath attempts to outline his understanding of why there has been renewed interest not only in the history of heresy, but also the resurrection (or adaption) of earlier heretical ideas. From here, he starts to give an overview of the book, at why it is important to have an understanding of the history of belief and how the notions of orthodoxy and heresy arose.
McGrath then goes on to have a look at some specific heresies; who the main characters were behind them, a history of their origins and the reasons why they became viewed as heresies. These specifically include Arianism, Docetism, Ebionitism, Montanism, Pelagianism & Valentinism.
The picture that McGrath paints of the origins of heresies of that of a group inside the church who are trying to understand the person and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. These were not "outsiders" trying to undermine the church, as some may suppose, but they were simply taking their theologies down dead-ends. Then, rather than being driven out of the church, the heretics chose to leave and establish their own breakaway churches.
McGrath also points out the difference of what is a genuine heresy (being a theological disagreement) and what is sometimes incorrectly referred to as a heresy (which was more often than not a challenge to the authority of the church). His main point in example is that of Martin Luther and the origins of the Reformation, declared to be a heretic by the Roman Catholic church, but which was ultimately shown to be a restoration of patristic ideas and that it was particular aspects of Catholicism that were in fact heretical, and continue to be so to this day.
There is also included a slightly odd little chapter on how Christian heresy relates to Islam. In it, he points out that the forms of Christianity which Mohammed talks about are highly characteristic of certain heretical ideas that were more common in the area that he moved around in prior to his writing the Qur'an.
Overall, it is a very good book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested not only in the history of particular heresies, but also in the very idea of a heresy. It is not an overly academic book, and is written very much as an introduction to the subject. The notes contain many further references for the interested reader. This gives it the strength of being very accessible and, as ever, McGrath's writing style is very clear and easy to follow.
McGrath then goes on to have a look at some specific heresies; who the main characters were behind them, a history of their origins and the reasons why they became viewed as heresies. These specifically include Arianism, Docetism, Ebionitism, Montanism, Pelagianism & Valentinism.
The picture that McGrath paints of the origins of heresies of that of a group inside the church who are trying to understand the person and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. These were not "outsiders" trying to undermine the church, as some may suppose, but they were simply taking their theologies down dead-ends. Then, rather than being driven out of the church, the heretics chose to leave and establish their own breakaway churches.
McGrath also points out the difference of what is a genuine heresy (being a theological disagreement) and what is sometimes incorrectly referred to as a heresy (which was more often than not a challenge to the authority of the church). His main point in example is that of Martin Luther and the origins of the Reformation, declared to be a heretic by the Roman Catholic church, but which was ultimately shown to be a restoration of patristic ideas and that it was particular aspects of Catholicism that were in fact heretical, and continue to be so to this day.
There is also included a slightly odd little chapter on how Christian heresy relates to Islam. In it, he points out that the forms of Christianity which Mohammed talks about are highly characteristic of certain heretical ideas that were more common in the area that he moved around in prior to his writing the Qur'an.
Overall, it is a very good book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested not only in the history of particular heresies, but also in the very idea of a heresy. It is not an overly academic book, and is written very much as an introduction to the subject. The notes contain many further references for the interested reader. This gives it the strength of being very accessible and, as ever, McGrath's writing style is very clear and easy to follow.
Format:Paperback
An eminently readable treatise on the complex subject of Heresy in the church. McGrath is always a pleasure to read and his learned stature is the only thing that casts a shadow over this book.
Besides empowering the reader with the latest understanding of historical heresies,this book will help you recognise heresy today or at least proto-heresies.
There are few academic works of this size that I can't put down, but this was one! Simple summaries at every point,and an excellent bibliography.
Besides empowering the reader with the latest understanding of historical heresies,this book will help you recognise heresy today or at least proto-heresies.
There are few academic works of this size that I can't put down, but this was one! Simple summaries at every point,and an excellent bibliography.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Academic yet approachable
This book is academic but approachable. At times you may need to keep concentration levels up, a few things just went over my head(though I think that's just down to my mind being... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Drj CUNLIFFE
Nearly there
As I would expect from McGrath, this is a well-written, thoroughly researched book, with some bias (he is a Protestant Christian) that is acknowledged from time to time. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Phillip
Clear and educative
Bargain for such an amount of information and summarizing of this important topic. Clearly written and accesible for those who don't study theology.
Published 19 months ago by Martine
Heresy made clear and accessible
An outstanding introduction to the nature of heresy, especially good on the first five centuries. Deals with the real issue of who decides what is a heresy. Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2010 by Mr. B. D. Lewis
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