On being an heretic
Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 8:43AM 
Now that many of my views on formal Western theological positions can only be described as heretical, I made a quick survey of Christian heresy to see what kind of company I am now keeping. The results were completely comforting, even encouraging. While I don't consider myself the intellectual equal of any of those I'm about to mention, it's nice to know that, in some very important areas, they agree with me. All the examples below were either anathematized, repudiated or excommunicated, some to be later re-admitted and even re-excommunicated, all against the background of early church power struggles and politics. In fact, the whole of early church history must have been a much more vigorous and vital place to do one's thinking. A bit like the Anglican church of late, perhaps.
Origen, one of the greatest of the early church fathers by almost every standard of reckoning, had his views on the actual status of Christ anathematized after his death. Eusebius, another great luminary, held decidedly unorthodox views that subordinated Jesus to a lesser position in the godhead. For this he was excommunicated. Clement of Alexandria quoted widely from non-canonical gospels, so must be regarded as suspect. And other rebels, such as Arius and Pelagius, were not only excommunicated, but gave their names to their own particular heresies. And the daddy of them all, St. Augustine, toyed with the idea of re-incarnation as a perfectly logical conclusion deduced from the eternal nature of the soul.
So I'm glad to associate with great men who have got it wrong before me. Long may the great tradition of getting it wrong continue. In fact, the ones who got it right don't seem to get much of a mention. After all, to live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong. Right?
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