A Brief History of Heresy
This short and accessible book introduces readers to the problems of heresy, schism and dissidence over the last two millennia. The heresies under discussion range from Gnosticism, influential in the early Christian period, right through to modern sects. The idea of a heretic conjures up many images, from the martyrs prepared to die for their beliefs, through to sects with bizarre practices. This book provides a remarkable insight into the fraught history of heresy, showing how the Church came to insist on orthodoxy when threatened by alternative ideals, exploring the social and political cond
History
1 online resource (214 pages)
9780470776827, 047077682X
437213900
A Brief History of Heresy; Contents; List of Illustrations; Preface; 1 The Importance of Being United; 2 The Boundaries of Orthodoxy: Faith; 3 The Boundaries of Orthodoxy: Order; 4 Classifying Heresies; 5 Heresy and Social Challenge; 6 Good and Evil; 7 Dealing with Heresy; Conclusion; Notes; Further reading; Index