http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/heresy/ en-us Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:59:22 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049260/posts Dr. James Innell Packer, a noted Canadian theologian, author and a Board of Governors Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, as well as an executive editor of Christianity Today, recently addressed the contentious problem of homosexuality and same-sex unions in the Anglican church. The Anglican Church has come to a cross-roads because of the issue of same-sex "marriage," with a massive split in the Global Communion looking increasingly inevitable. Dr. Packer opened his remarks with a statement explaining why this issue is of such great importance in the Anglican Church today. "In brief," he said, "because it involves... Catholic Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049260/posts#comment Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:59:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049105/posts It hasn’t taken that many days to realize that the once-every-ten-years Lambeth Conference is again abundant in elaborate rhetoric. Last night’s sermon by the Bishop of Colombo, the Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera is a good example. We heard from the bishop that the Anglican problem is very simple, "The church is called to be an inclusive communion,” de Chickera stated, “where there is space equally for everyone and anyone, regardless of color, gender, sexual orientation, ability. Unity in diversity is a cherished Anglican tradition, a spirituality which we must reinforce in all humility for the sake of Christ and... Catholic online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049105/posts#comment Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:23:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2047600/posts James Tramel went from convicted murderer to priest while in prison, a transformation that the Episcopal Church used to successfully lobby for his parole and celebrate him before politicians and the press. But the church is now grappling with the sexual abuse of a parishioner under his care. Tramel has been suspended for sexual misconduct, temporarily stripped of his priestly authority and left searching for a new job. The San Francisco-based Episcopal Diocese of California now faces questions of whether, in its haste to proclaim Tramel's story, it redeemed and promoted him too quickly. Convicted of second-degree murder in a... San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2047600/posts#comment Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:57:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2044929/posts OF THE POWER AND PRIMACY OF THE POPE. Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald, in the Year 1537. The Roman Pontiff claims for himself [in the first place] that by divine right he is [supreme] above all bishops and pastors [in all Christendom]. Secondly, he adds also that by divine right he has both swords, i.e., the authority also of bestowing kingdoms [enthroning and deposing kings, regulating secular dominions etc.]. And thirdly, he says that to believe this is necessary for salvation. And for these reasons the Roman bishop calls himself [and boasts that he is] the vicar... Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2044929/posts#comment Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:44:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2044348/posts Although the RPCNA produced a document on justification some time ago that rejected both Federal Vision and the New Perspective on Paul, their Synod just recently and formally accepted the recommendations of that document (HT: De Regno Christi):1. That Synod DECLARE that we stand in solidarity with our Reformed and Presbyterian brethren in rejecting as contrary to the Scriptures as summarized by our confessional standards the theological views that are generally associated with the movements identified as “the New Perspective(s) on Paul” and the “Federal Vision”. 2. That Synod REAFFIRM our commitment to the biblical, historical, and confessional, Reformed doctrine... Reformed Musings http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2044348/posts#comment Sat, 12 Jul 2008 10:22:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2043316/posts Plagued by questions about the divine truth of the Bible, today's young Christians are doubting their faith as never before, says Peter Enns, professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside. But when Enns wrote a book urging wobbly believers to embrace man's role in shaping the Bible, he plunged the famously conservative seminary into crisis. Westminster's board of trustees suspended Enns, 47, from his teaching post in March, and has ordered a four-day hearing to determine if he should be dismissed "for the good of the seminary." Some of his supporters are condemning the hearing, due to... Philadelphia Inquirer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2043316/posts#comment Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:03:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2038730/posts She grew up wanting to be a priest - maybe from the time she was just 5 years old, she said. She served as an altar girl in her home parish, loving to be close to the sacramental action and mystery of the Mass. But Roman Catholic girls might as well dream of flying to the moon on arm power alone as finding their priestly way into the patriarchal church. So, Mary Elizabeth Conroy, growing up in western Massachusetts in a strong, devoted and somewhat traditional family, more or less learned to bury her ambition. She attended Marymount College, a... Pueblo Chieftain http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2038730/posts#comment Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:32:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2037738/posts June 26, 2008 STATEMENT REGARDING THE CANONICAL DISCIPLINE OF SISTER LOUISE LEARS, S.C. After a canonical process of several months, Archbishop Raymond Burke has, today, decided the case of Sister Louise Lears, S.C., a member of the “pastoral team” at Saint Cronan Parish, who was accused of four delicts, all connected with her encouragement of, promotion of and participation in the attempted ordination of two women to the Sacred Priesthood at a local synagogue in November of last year. Delicts, which must be published in the Church, are grave and external violations against the Catholic faith or moral teaching. A... Archdiocese of St. Louis http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2037738/posts#comment Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:49:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030195/posts It was billed as the first-ever "Muslim Heretics Conference." Provocative? To be sure. But when Sudanese-American scholar Abdullahi An-Naim organized it in Atlanta this April, what he really wanted to do was ignite some innovative thinking – brainstorm the predicament of traditional Islam in the modern world. "I deliberately wanted to shock people into seeing `heresy' as a creative force," he laughs. Naim may describe himself as a Muslim heretic (his conservative critics certainly do), but his peers in academia prefer the rather more admiring designation of public intellectual. Either way, the Emory University law professor has become famous throughout... The Toronto Star http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030195/posts#comment Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:18:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2022611/posts Unless You Eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and Drink His Blood You Have No Life In You Are these words of Jesus from John 6:53 to be taken literally or figuratively? The Roman Catholic Church teaches the context of John chapter six and the above headlined verse 53 are literal. Thus Jesus is giving absolute and unconditional requirements for eternal life. In fact, this literal interpretation forms the foundation for Rome's doctrine of transubstantiation -- the miraculous changing of bread and wine into the living Christ, His body and blood, soul and divinity. Each Catholic priest is... Proclaiming The Gospel Ministries http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2022611/posts#comment Wed, 28 May 2008 20:33:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2020394/posts "It is beyond question that he [the pope] can err even in matters touching the faith. He does this when he teaches heresy by his own judgment or decretal. In truth, many Roman Pontiffs were heretics." --Pope Adrian VI, 1523 (last non-Italian pope before John Paul II)The question to thoughtful Roman Catholics: Clearly Pope Adrian was speaking about faith and morals. Was his statement authoritative, or heretical? Regarding papal infallibility the current-day Roman Catholic Church says: "The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2020394/posts#comment Fri, 23 May 2008 20:07:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2018637/posts From Christianity’s beginnings, the Church has been attacked by those introducing false teachings, or heresies. The Bible warned us this would happen. Paul told his young protégé, Timothy, "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths" (2 Tim. 4:3–4).   What Is Heresy? Heresy is an emotionally loaded term that is often misused. It is not the same thing as incredulity, schism, apostasy, or other sins against faith.... Catholic.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2018637/posts#comment Tue, 20 May 2008 14:46:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2018571/posts The Anglican Church is the perfect vehicle for creating a new “gay” Christianity by virtue of the fact that it is the only church that accepts the logical contradiction of asserting both the sanctity of human life and the existence of a right to abortion. Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson, whose ordination to the episcopate has precipitated the ongoing schism between traditionally Christian Anglicans and its ultra-liberal, secularized branches, is in London to talk about his vision for the homosexual future of the Anglican Church. He was visiting and promoting his cause in preparation for the upcoming Lambeth Conference in July. Catholic Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2018571/posts#comment Tue, 20 May 2008 12:14:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013782/posts I have been to the outpouring in Lakeland twice with my family. I was wondering if any other Freepers have been as well. We went when it was still in Ignited Church which holds 700. It has moved to a church in Auburndale that holds 3,000, they then moved it to the Lakeland Convention Center that holds 9,000 and then to Lakeland Tigers Baseball stadium that holds nearly 12,000. Tonight it will be at Lakeland/Linder Airport, Sun and Fun Grounds. We have seen lots of healings and miracles. It has been going on for over 35 days and will be... eyewitness http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013782/posts#comment Fri, 9 May 2008 22:03:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2009675/posts Four Japanese bishops have travelled to Rome for a meeting with Pope Benedict to seek Holy See intervention to resolve what they describe as a "serious problem" with the methods of the Neo-Catechumenal Way movement and its seminary in a Japanese diocese. UCA News reports it was the third time Japanese bishops visited and brought up the matter in five months. "We hate to come so often but we had to give the serious nature of the problem that needs to be resolved", Archbishop Okada of Tokyo, president of the bishops' conference, told UCA News in Rome. During their ad... CN Catholic News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2009675/posts#comment Thu, 1 May 2008 13:58:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2008574/posts Ancient writings unearthed in the last century and a half, primarily in Egypt, are lending support to doctrines and teachings of Joseph Smith, founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Brigham Young University professor of antiquities said Sunday. C. Wilford Griggs, who has written extensively on Egypt and is working on excavating Christian burial grounds in Egypt, said scholars are now admitting that "Joseph Smith got into the antiquities" before experts in the field began their discoveries, but they won't accept his explanation. Smith, an uneducated farm boy, claimed he translated the Book of Mormon... Deseret News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2008574/posts#comment Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:08:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2005601/posts Why I left the Episcopal Church by Dr Moheb Ghali April 22nd, 2008 Occasionally I am asked why I found it necessary, after four decades of committed service, to leave the Episcopal Church. My answer is: I had to choose whom to believe. On many issues central to my faith what Jesus and the Apostles say and what the leaders of the Episcopal Church say are incompatible. I chose to believe in what Jesus and the Apostles say, and that made it necessary to leave the Episcopal Church. The Bishops of the Church, who are the Ecclesiastical Authorities in their... Anglican Mainstream http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2005601/posts#comment Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:10:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2000568/posts One of the fundamental principles of Christianity is that nothing is sacred. No thing. No part of creation is God. God is separate from the creation. Creation is only to be respected (made holy) as the handiwork of our God. It is never to be worshiped. This is why western civilization holds nothing sacred. Not king, not country, not flag, not clergy. This is the basis of our freedoms. The first ammendment rights are based on this idea. This is where the founding fathers got this stuff. Fundamentalist evangelicals violate this basic principle every time the put the printed Bible... New Reformation Website http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2000568/posts#comment Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:32:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1999123/posts "Mother" Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu of Albanian parents in what is now Yugoslavia/Bosnia on August 27, 1910. She died of a heart attack on September 5, 1997. The diminutive nun arrived in India on January 6, 1929, where she started assisting the needy and eventually established the now-global "Missionaries of Charity" organization. ... Yet, "Mother" Teresa, and those who worked with her, never tried to convert to Christ the dying people for whom they cared. Instead, "Mother" Teresa declared: "If in coming face to face with God we accept Him in our lives, then we are converting. We... Biblical Discernment Ministries http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1999123/posts#comment Wed, 9 Apr 2008 19:58:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1997871/posts VIENNA (Reuters) - They knew it would be risky to exhibit a homoerotic version of Christ's Last Supper, but curators at museum of Vienna's Roman Catholic Cathedral weren't ready for a barrage of angry messages and calls to be shut down. The source of the dispute, which Austrian media has dubbed Vienna's version of the Mohammad caricature row, is a retrospective honoring Austria's cherished artist Alfred Hrdlicka, who turned 80 earlier this year. But not everyone has been wishing Hrdlicka a Happy Birthday. And the Cathedral Museum's director and Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, the archbishop of Vienna, have both come under... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1997871/posts#comment Mon, 7 Apr 2008 12:56:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1993859/posts Chapter 4 (Pages 1 to 6 of the manuscript, containing chapters 1 - 3, are lost. The extant text starts on page 7...) . . . Will matter then be destroyed or not? 22) The Savior said, All nature, all formations, all creatures exist in and with one another, and they will be resolved again into their own roots. 23) For the nature of matter is resolved into the roots of its own nature alone. 24) He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 25) Peter said to him, Since you have explained everything to us, tell us this... The Gnostic Society Library http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1993859/posts#comment Sun, 30 Mar 2008 03:24:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1991362/posts From the Globe&Mail, H/T John Hetman That triumphal barnburner of an Easter hymn, Jesus Christ Has Risen Today - Hallelujah, this morning will rock the walls of Toronto's West Hill United Church as it will in most Christian churches across the country. But at West Hill on the faith's holiest day, it will be done with a huge difference. The words "Jesus Christ" will be excised from what the congregation sings and replaced with "Glorious hope." Thus, it will be hope that is declared to be resurrected - an expression of renewal of optimism and the human spirit -... Cafeteria is Closed http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1991362/posts#comment Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:27:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1989832/posts That triumphal barnburner of an Easter hymn, Jesus Christ Has Risen Today – Hallelujah, this morning will rock the walls of Toronto's West Hill United Church as it will in most Christian churches across the country. But at West Hill on the faith's holiest day, it will be done with a huge difference. The words “Jesus Christ” will be excised from what the congregation sings and replaced with “Glorious hope.” Thus, it will be hope that is declared to be resurrected – an expression of renewal of optimism and the human spirit – but not Jesus, contrary to Christianity's central... The Globe and Mail http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1989832/posts#comment Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:56:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1988137/posts BELLEVILLE -- Voice of the Faithful, a national Catholic lay organization, has issued a statement supporting 46 Belleville Diocese priests who have asked Bishop Edward K. Braxton to resign. A list of the 39 active and seven retired priests was made public Monday. Their letter calling for Braxton to step down because of misuse of donated funds and failure to communicate with priests was made public Friday. Belleville News Democrat http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1988137/posts#comment Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:36:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1986970/posts Senator Barack Obama is not a Muslim, contrary to invidious rumors. But he belongs to a Christian church whose doctrine casts Jesus Christ as a "black messiah" and blacks as "the chosen people". At best, this is a radically different kind of Christianity than most Americans acknowledge; at worst it is an ethnocentric heresy. What played out last week on America's television screens was a clash of two irreconcilable cultures, the posture of "black liberation theology" and the mainstream American understanding of Christianity. Obama, who presented himself as a unifying figure, now seems rather the living embodiment of the clash. Asia TImes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1986970/posts#comment Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:40:44 GMT