Heresies and How to Avoid Them
by Ben Quash & Michael Ward | Book Summary
|
Author: Ben Quash & Michael Ward
|
Despite our postmodern resistance to any standard of absolute truth, church history is filled with leaders who passionately argued for the truth and tirelessly exposed the falsehood of heresy. Irenaeus of Lyons was one of the first theologians to expose the heresies of his day. Irenaeus reminds us "that from a Christian point of view heresies are not to be taken lightly, and can be positively dangerous to the community of faith" (p. 2). This book is intended to explain the heresies that have continually plagued the church. "The generous contention of most authors in this book is that the Church, and orthodox believers, have reason to be grateful to heresies because they have forced us to think our belief out more deeply and thoroughly—whether by their misguided attempts to clarify it, or by challenging it." (p. 8) |
Ben Quash is an Anglican priest, and he is a Professor of Christianity and the Arts at King's College in London. He is the author of Theology and the Drama of History, and a co-editor of Fields of Faith.
Michael Ward is an Anglican priest and an author. He served as Chaplain of Peterhouse in the University of Cambridge, as well as Assistant Curate at St. Mary's. He received a doctorate from the University of Saint Andrews.
Heresies and How to Avoid Them
by Ben Quash & Michael Ward
[ Book Summary ]
| Author | Ben Quash & Michael Ward |
| Publisher | Baker Academic |
| Date | 2007 |
| Pages | 148 |
Overview:
"Ideas achieve the status of heresies in Christian tradition because they are thought by the Church to be wrong rather than right teaching, or 'doctrine.'" (p. 1) For many postmodern people, the very categories of doctrine, orthodoxy, and heresy are off-putting. These concepts evoke ideas of "intolerance and persecution" (p. 1). Few people today want to be known as people who arrogantly claim to have unique access to exclusive truth.
Despite our postmodern resistance to any standard of absolute truth, church history is filled with leaders who passionately argued for the truth and tirelessly exposed the falsehood of heresy. Irenaeus of Lyons was one of the first theologians to expose the heresies of his day. Irenaeus reminds us "that from a Christian point of view heresies are not to be taken lightly, and can be positively dangerous to the community of faith" (p. 2).
This book is intended to explain the heresies that have continually plagued the church. "The generous contention of most authors in this book is that the Church, and orthodox believers, have reason to be grateful to heresies because they have forced us to think our belief out more deeply and thoroughly—whether by their misguided attempts to clarify it, or by challenging it." (p. 8
Ben Quash is an Anglican priest, and he is a Professor of Christianity and the Arts at King's College in London. He is the author of Theology and the Drama of History, and a co-editor of Fields of Faith.
Michael Ward is an Anglican priest and an author. He served as Chaplain of Peterhouse in the University of Cambridge, as well as Assistant Curate at St. Mary's. He received a doctorate from the University of Saint Andrews.
