It takes two to create a heresy: the heretic to practice his dissident beliefs, and the Church to condemn his views and define orthodox doctrine. This inevitable tension between dissent and order was the motor which drove the development of Christian thought. Heresy forced the Church to progressively define its doctrines and to anathematize opposing theological opinions. It is my intent in this paper to explore the role of the Church in stimulating the same …
showed first 75 words of 2718 total

showed last 75 words of 2718 total
…harpened for themselves. If it had not pressured the Church into defining its doctrine and taking a stand, Catharism could have seriously affected religion throughout Western Europe. The domination of orthodoxy by the end of the Middle Ages would not of been possible without steady resistance from heresy. Christianity as we know it today might have been very different if it had not aspired to conquer the same heresies that it grew up with.