Are You A Heretic?

Are you a heretic?

Based off it's earliest definition, I would most certainly have to say,

"I most certainly ______ !"

But wait...

What is heresy anyways, and should it even matter to any of us anyhow, especially nowadays? What do you think heresy stands for today, according to today's standards?

In my quest for answers, I discovered many different elements having to do with the word "heresy." The root word itself is of Greek origin. It comes from the Greek word hairesis ; which means either a "choice of beliefs," or a "faction of dissident believers." According to the Seek to Know website: Heresy is the holding of a belief that is in fundamental disagreement with the established teachings or doctrines of an organized religion. After all, the Inquisition was a permanent institution in the Catholic Church charged with the eradication of heresies .

There have been many great men muck like Galileo, John the Baptist, James the Just, and (I will say) Christ himself, who are earmarked as religions/Christianity's all time greatest, religious, thinkers. If you seriously study and explore these men, and their remarkable past lives. You will soon find a world that was surrounded by mystical knowledge, which they all sacrificed their lives for by sharing that knowledge with us. All of these men mention here, technically could be condemned by certain religious dogma, as Christianity's most ardent, heretical, forefathers. How can this be I ask?

As a child of the Roman Catholic faith, I often wonder what part of the Catholic religious dogma did Christ follow? Better yet, what part of Catholicism's religious dogma truly follows Christ? Even today as I write this, which part? Could it be the opulent Churches, glided in gold, crosses, part? Or the worshiping of Saints and sacrificial idols part? I can understand how and why so many Popes eventually became corrupted, and used religion as a means to control and rule the world. But now? Why are we following and listening to these guys now? The Catedral de Sevilla is the largest, Gothic building in Europe. It also boasts the largest altarpiece in the world. It is an amazing 124,000 square feet. If you want to worship to Christ in the Cathedral, you will first be required to pay a parking fee. That's right, a parking fee. So why is it that we still continue to follow a faith that teaches us to pray to Mary, instead of praying to God? That charges us not only a entry fee, but, a parking fee as well? It's not just the Catholics either. Why do millions of Protestant church goers attend church regularly, but, refuse to live by the word of God? How many times have you encounter a Christian, who has completely abandoned Jesus's philosophy of doing unto others as you would have done onto you?

There is more to being a Christian, than simply believing in Christ. More importantly there are more heretics living in this world, than true Christians standing amongst us today. Give up the pomp and circumstance. Shed your false idols and broken down philosophies. The greatest thing about Christ is that he is constantly, and more importantly, patiently- waiting.

Ask yourself today, "Are YOU a heretic?"

• A person who holdsreligious beliefs in conflict with the dogma of the Roman Catholic Church
• A person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion)
  wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
• The Heretic is the second machinima series made by Edgeworks Entertainment. Like its predecessor, The Heretic is set in Bungie Studios'Halo video gameuniverse. It is a prequel to the popular series The Codex, and is the second story in the greater Codex Series. ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Heretic
• Heretic is a fantasy first-person shooter video game created by Raven Software, published by id Software, and distributed by GT Interactive in 1994.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heretic_(video_game)
• Heretic is a 1996 play by Australian playwright David Williamson. The play explores Derek Freemans reaction to Margaret Mead's "The Coming of Age in Samoa". The play takes place in Freeman's dream, where individuals (including Mead) from his life return and discuss his life.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heretic_(play)
• Heretic is the third studio album by the band Naked City, used as a soundtrack for the underground S/M film Jeux des Dames Cruelles. The album Utilises different combinations of band members in duos and trios with the entire band performing together on only one track "Fire and Ice".
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heretic_(Naked_City_album)
• Heretic was an 80s speed/thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. Its members consisted of Mike Howe, future Metal Church vocalist, Dennis O'Harra on Bass, Brian Korban on Guitar, Rick Merrick on Drums, and Bobby Marquez on Guitar. ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heretic_(band)
• Heretic is the seventh studio album by the death metal band Morbid Angel.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heretic_(Morbid_Angel_album)
• Someone who believes contrary to the fundamental tenets of a religion they claim to belong to; Of or pertaining to heresy or heretics
  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/heretic
• Heresy - unorthodoxy: any opinions or doctrines at variance with the official or orthodox position
• Heresy - a belief that rejects the orthodox tenets of a religion
  wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
• Heretical - dissident: characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards
  wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
• Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion. ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heresy
• Heresy is a song written by and performed by Rush and appears on their 1991 album Roll The Bones. The song is about the fall of communism in Eastern Europe and Russia, the winds of change through those countries, and it ultimately asked the question; "Who will pay?"
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heresy_(Rush_song)
• Heresy is a comedy talk show on BBC Radio 4, now presented by Victoria Coren and formerly by David Baddiel. In the show, the presenter and a panel of guests commit "heresy" by challenging people's most deeply received opinions on a subject, in front of a studio audience.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heresy_(radio_series)