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'''Heresy''' is the act of speaking against the doctrine of an established [[Religion|religious]] organization, or simply having private beliefs that are not in accordance with the officially-endorsed position. Heresy differs entirely from [[apostasy]].

'''Heresy''' is the act of speaking against the doctrine of an established [[Religion|religious]] organization, or simply having private beliefs that are not in accordance with the officially-endorsed position. Heresy differs entirely from [[apostasy]].

In early [[Christianity]], '''heresy''' was a recurring problem as people pretending to be [[Christian]]s would advocate doctrines contrary to the [[Bible]]. As heresy was seen as a great threat to the church, spurious allegations of heresy were also used by rival ecclesiarchs to attack their enemies. A series of [[Councils]] were held to establish official doctrine, in some cases leading to [[Great Schism|schisms]], such as the split between the [[Roman Catholic]] and [[Eastern Orthodox]] Churches in the eleventh century (1054).

In early [[Christianity]], '''heresy''' was a recurring problem as people pretending to be [[Christian]]s would advocate doctrines contrary to the [[Bible]]. As heresy was seen as a great threat to the church, spurious allegations of heresy were also used by rival ecclesiarchs to attack their enemies. A series of [[Councils]] were held to establish official doctrine, in some cases leading to [[Great Schism|schisms]], such as the split between the [[Roman Catholic]] and [[Eastern Orthodox]] Churches in the eleventh century (1054).

Author Philip J. Lee, '''''Against the Protestant Gnostics''''' <ref>[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/845498.Against_the_Protestant_Gnostics Against the Protestant Gnostics, Philip J. Lee, Oxford University Press, 1993 (goodreads.com)] <br> See [https://preachingpeace.org/against-the-protestant-gnostics/ ''Against the Protestant Gnostics'': Book Review, by Caleb Miller - Preaching Peace (preachingpeace.org)]</ref> shows that Gnostic tendencies are being taught alongside Christian orthodoxy, and that the Reformation at its heart fostered the inherent Gnostic tendencies toward a disdain for authority and the physical nature of things, and the Gnostic disdain of the [[sacrament]]s and disdain of the doctrine of the [[Last Judgment|physical resurrection of the body]], and a ''[[sola scriptura]]'' reading of scripture ''[[sola spiritu]]'' with the hope of a bodiless spiritual-only salvation forever in heaven after death, through a direct "personal relation with Christ" (as a cosmic spiritual entity) and "knowing Jesus" by the "chosen elect".<ref>The same elements are found in the earlier [[Bogomil: Bogomilism|Bogomils]] and the [[Cathar]]s or [[Albigenses]].</ref> He demonstrates how these teachings of Gnosticism have wormed their way into Christian teachings, particularly in North American Protestantism. Pastor and author Peter Dietsch, in summarizing Lee's book, says, "''In both the Old and New Testaments, the knowledge of God is not self-discoverable. God has revealed Himself in and through a community (His people, the Church), therefore He may be known only through that community.''" <ref>[https://www.theaquilareport.com/gnosticism-vs-christianity/ '''Gnosticism vs. Christianity:''' Six contrasts between the teachings of Gnosticism and the Christian faith, Written by Peter M. Dietsch - The Aquila Report (theaquilareport.com)]  

Author Philip J. Lee, '''''Against the Protestant Gnostics''''' <ref>[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/845498.Against_the_Protestant_Gnostics Against the Protestant Gnostics, Philip J. Lee, Oxford University Press, 1993 (goodreads.com)] <br> See [https://preachingpeace.org/against-the-protestant-gnostics/ ''Against the Protestant Gnostics'': Book Review, by Caleb Miller - Preaching Peace (preachingpeace.org)]</ref> shows that Gnostic tendencies are being taught alongside Christian orthodoxy, and that the Reformation at its heart fostered the inherent Gnostic tendencies toward a disdain for authority and the physical nature of things, and the Gnostic disdain of the [[sacrament]]s and disdain of the doctrine of the [[Last Judgment|physical resurrection of the body]], and a ''[[sola scriptura]]'' reading of scripture ''[[sola spiritu]]'' with the hope of a bodiless spiritual-only salvation forever in heaven after death, through a direct "personal relation with Christ" (as a cosmic spiritual entity) and "knowing Jesus" by the "chosen elect".<ref>The same elements are found in the earlier [[Bogomil: Bogomilism|Bogomils]] and the [[Cathar]]s or [[Albigenses]].</ref> He demonstrates how these teachings of Gnosticism have wormed their way into Christian teachings, particularly in North American Protestantism. Pastor and author Peter Dietsch, in summarizing Lee's book, says, "''In both the Old and New Testaments, the knowledge of God is not self-discoverable. God has revealed Himself in and through a community (His people, the Church), therefore He may be known only through that community.''" <ref>[https://www.theaquilareport.com/gnosticism-vs-christianity/ '''Gnosticism vs. Christianity:''' Six contrasts between the teachings of Gnosticism and the Christian faith, Written by Peter M. Dietsch - The Aquila Report (theaquilareport.com)]  

:—Peter M. Dietsch is pastor of Providence PCA (''[[Presbyterian Church in America]]'') in Midland, Texas. He summarizes '''''Against the Protestant Gnostics''''', by Philip J. Lee.</ref>

:—Peter M. Dietsch is pastor of Providence PCA (''[[Presbyterian Church in America]]'') in Midland, Texas. He summarizes '''''Against the Protestant Gnostics''''', by Philip J. Lee.</ref>

== References ==

== References ==