Heretics!

The title says it all: today's post is about heretics. What's a heretic? Who is a heretic? How do I go about choosing my favorite heretic (for your homework assignment)? Hopefully this post will provide some answers.

First: definitions, specifically of "heretic" and "heresy." Your homework page from the CnC book defines a heretic in this way:

"A heretic is someone who holds a controversial or unorthodox opinion or doctrine, as in religion, politics, philosophy, or science. A heretic believes something that the authorities--religious, political, social--do not believe. Heretics are often considered to be very dangerous people, becuase they want to change the way things are done or what people believe. Heretics make people uncomfortable. In many times and places, heretics have been shunned or even killed for their beliefs. Heretics may or may not be right. Soemtimes it takes many years or even centuries before their ideas are shown to be either wise or foolish."

Heresy, then, would be the "controversial or unorthodox opinion or doctrine."

So who are heretics? Again, your homework page lists some examples, both from the classical and medieval church as well as from modern and contemporary society. My suggestion for getting started on your homework would be to start by looking up a few of the people listed--Google search the names and see what you can find on the particular figure. Also, don't limit yourself to the contemporary figures or those whose names you recognize! Some of these guys from the early church are really out there and interesting. Take a chance and read up on them-you may find out something pretty cool. Wikipedia has a list of people burned as heretics, if you're looking for a starting place for the medieval set (a starting place other than the list in your homework, that is!)

And remember, this is about who is YOUR favorite heretic. It could be someone not on the list at all-someone YOU think has challenged accepted opinions or beliefs. What we want to hear in your presentations (and in your homework) is why they're your favorite, and how they've challenged beliefs. You may think that Carl Sagan or Steven Hawking is a heretic, but you will need to explain why (don't know those names? Look them up!!!)

And don't forget to bring magazines this week...we'll need them for the collages you're going to be making.

Stay warm!

* About the picture: this is a picture from an illuminated (highly decorated, in other words) 13th century manuscript of St. Augustine of Hippo refuting the heretic. St. Augustine is one of the Church's most important theologians (someone who writes and thinks about God). One of the major issues in his time was the Donatist controversy. I'm not going to explain it here, though. It's a heresy-it might be your favorite-so look it up! Oh and Augustine is perhaps best known for his work Confessions. It's awesome. You should read it.

Don't take the idea from this picture, though, that heretics are people we should necessarily chop down with swords (or anyone, for that matter). I just couldn't find a picture of just a heretic, and St. Augustine rocks so...there we go. It's a picture about heresy, so I thought it might work.

OK that's all for now!