A Nestorian brushfire

[Oblio]

Tradition is giving your ancestors a vote


(or something like that)

 

[Wisdom's Child]

You know, I'd love to see the "classic" heresies -- Nestorianism, Arianism, Modalism, Monarchism, etc., defined briefly in modern language, and a poll that lists those definitions without identifying the heresy, with Nicene-Chalcedonian orthodoxy thrown in as just one poll option, conducted in a forum frequented by Christians of various denominations. I think the results would be startling!

I got flamed on another board by a member here who also posts there for defending "Truly God and truly man" -- it was an insult to His divinity to suggest that He was human as well, according to her! (I bet Oblio remembers the incident.)

Not a bad idea. Do you mind if I take it?

I too would really like to see such a posting, being that Heresy is a favorite subject of mine. It would be very interesting in say the; Christian Theology or even Non-Denominational Forums, as long as it is in the "Christians Only" section.

One of my "Pet" Heresy Theories is the evidence of Nicholaitan "Sexual Immorality" Heresy in the Homosexual Accepting Churches. Such a poll could verify this for me.

 

[Philip]

I too would really like to see such a posting, being that Heresy is a favorite subject of mine. It would be very interesting in say the; Christian Theology or even Non-Denominational Forums, as long as it is in the "Christians Only" section.

Definitely a CO area. I think General Theology is appropriate.

 

[Polycarp1]

The poll is up and running: http://www.christianforums.com/t688173

Results are, uh, interesting!

 

[Polycarp1]

Ongoing results:

Out of 35 people who have formally stated they adhere to the Nicene Creed, we have:
Modalists -- 8.6%
Adoptionists -- 3%
Arianists -- 8.6%
Nestorians -- 26%
Docetists -- 14%

(These percentages are based on there being 35 respondents; because multiple choice answers are permitted, the percentages in the poll results are answers/total answers, not answers/total respondents.)

As my fellow Anglican Paladin Valer said, in effect, where's St. Athanasius when you need him?

 

[Miss Shelby]

A. Believer is most likely Orthodox Presbyterian, or something similiar. Her point was that she thought the term was inappropriate because of implications, not that it was wrong. I can see her point, though I don't agree with her.

In my opinion, if more people were less worried about these supposed implications and more worried about understanding the truth, we would see alot less of this.

The reason Mother of God sticks in the back of some people's throats is because (imo) they believe once they utter it they will be overcome with an intense irresistable desire to drop to their knees in front of a Mary statue and start offering up fertility cakes to Isis.

It is an unfounded fear.

Michelle

 

[Kripost]

Ongoing results:

Out of 35 people who have formally stated they adhere to the Nicene Creed, we have:
Modalists -- 8.6%
Adoptionists -- 3%
Arianists -- 8.6%
Nestorians -- 26%
Docetists -- 14%

Arghh!
I can understand why Modalism and Nestorianism could exist. But Arianists and Docetists?!

 

[katherine2001]

Polycarp, I have to admit that what I'm seeing on that poll are really scary. I'm not sure that too many people aren't hearing that doctrine/theology don't matter.

As far as St. Athanasius, most Protestants probably have never heard of him. I know that I'd never heard of any of the Church Fathers. Of course, I'd heard of Augustine, but that was it. Many (if not most) Protestants are totally ignorant of Church history. They know very little about the history of the Church and they certainly don't know that writings from the Early Church still exist and that they can read them for themselves. I certainly know that I didn't know about them. Wouldn't it be great if Christian Book Stores would replace all their books on the End Times with the Church Fathers?

 

[countrymousenc]

Wouldn't it be great if Christian Book Stores would replace all their books on the End Times with the Church Fathers?

I'd vote for that! (There are a lot of other books they could replace, too.)

I've heard modalism preached from Protestant pulpits by highly educated pastors (Th.D.'s) who, if you asked, would say that of course they adhere to the Nicene Creed.

They can't interpret the Creed (which is fairly self-explanatory), but they think they can interpret the Scriptures.

It is scary.

 

[Lotar]

Wouldn't it be great if Christian Book Stores would replace all their books on the End Times with the Church Fathers?

I think I'd die of a heart attack I almost did the other week when the local Christian Bookstore got in a copy of St Augustine's Confessions.

I always have to go to Borders to get anything good.

 

[Suzannah]

I'm such an idiot....I only voted for one item in your poll, thinking some are trick questions, not realizing it was multiple choice....they begged me to quit college...lol! I didn't read the whole thing very carefully.

 

[Polycarp1]

Hey, would one of you who feels called to do so please do the requested descriptions of heresies and the reasons why they're dangerous in the General Theology poll thread? I can of course identify the heresies -- I wrote the poll, after all! -- but I don't trust myself to explain clearly the dangers of each. Thanks!

 

[Philip]

I will give it a try.

 

[Eusebios]

I think I'd die of a heart attack I almost did the other week when the local Christian Bookstore got in a copy of St Augustine's Confessions.

I always have to go to Borders to get anything good.

Frustrating isn't it ! I have given up on Berean and the rest, they seem to be satisfied with fluff and "Jesus junk".
I have unfortunately been unable to link to the original thread
In any event, I am not surprised.
His unworthy servant,
Eusebios.

 

[Polycarp1]

With 56 respondents, we have the following:
Adoptionism (2 responses) - 3.6% of respondents
Arianism (6 responses) - 10.7%
Dynamism (1 response) - 1.8%
Gnosticism (1 response) - 1.8%
Modalism (4 responses) - 7.1%
Nestorianism (16 responses) - 28.6%

And a lot of them are defending their responses with "The Bible clearly says that...." Sometimes I feel like St. Nicholas!

 

[Oblio]

This survey on the source of Christ's humanity and some of the responses are not too encouraging either.

 

[Lotar]

Frustrating isn't it ! I have given up on Berean and the rest, they seem to be satisfied with fluff and "Jesus junk".
I have unfortunately been unable to link to the original thread
In any event, I am not surprised.
His unworthy servant,
Eusebios.

Ahhh, Berean. 10,000 rows dedicated to Christian inspiriation, 2,000 dedicated to Christian fiction, 50,000 dedicated to Left Behind, and half a shelf in back that is sometimes stocked with doctrine and theology.

 

[Polycarp1]

Ahhh, Berean. 10,000 rows dedicated to Christian inspiriation, 2,000 dedicated to Christian fiction, 50,000 dedicated to Left Behind, and half a shelf in back that is sometimes stocked with doctrine and theology.

LOL!

Let us not forget, however, the racks of Bibles of debatable value (my favorite here is the "Precious Moments Bible" with pictures of those cute little kids interspersed here and there -- the Davey and Goliath item was particularly poignant!). How about a photographically illustrated Bible?

But nearly 30% of the Nicene Christians on this board are Nestorian? That's scary!

 

[Philip]

But nearly 30% of the Nicene Christians on this board are Nestorian? That's scary!

What is truly scary is that some cling to Nestorianism even when its errors a explained.

 

[Lotar]

LOL!

Let us not forget, however, the racks of Bibles of debatable value (my favorite here is the "Precious Moments Bible" with pictures of those cute little kids interspersed here and there -- the Davey and Goliath item was particularly poignant!). How about a photographically illustrated Bible?

I have a copy of the Precious Moments Bible, from when I was a kid.

I haven't seen the photographic one. Sometimes I try look through their bibles, but there are so many... I just need to learn Greek, it'll make things a lot less difficult.

But nearly 30% of the Nicene Christians on this board are Nestorian? That's scary!

It is!!! It's also scary how many Gnostics and Modalists are lurking in these forums.