Ep. 1: Why Holy Heretics?
Show Notes
Episode Summary
In the premiere episode, Melanie and Gary Alan explain why you might be a “Holy Heretic.” They discuss how orthodoxy and heresy not only interact with each other, but also how they have shaped the Church throughout history. But most importantly, they highlight how this has impacted not just the modern Church, but also our theology and our understanding of God.
Quotables
“When we look at history, and especially when we look at the Church, a lot of times the majority is wrong.” (tweet this)
“Just because something is accepted as normal doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s true.” (tweet this)
“Orthodoxy trains us to be passive, to accept things that come from the pulpit or from an authority figure, and to not take ownership of our own faith.” (tweet this)
“We need to create space for dissenting opinions.” (tweet this)
“Orthodoxy, for the early Church, wasn’t nearly as important as orthopraxy—a proper, right way of living.” (tweet this)
“When you look a Christianity, when it begins to get in bed with power, things go bad pretty quickly.” (tweet this)
“To stay in a rigid, dogmatic faith that isn’t growing is sinful.” (tweet this)
“The big question in the Church today is: What is essential to faith?” (tweet this)
“More often than not, Jesus leads us outside the bounds of religion.” (tweet this)
Timestamps and References
[4:37]—Quotation from George Orwell’s 1984: “Orthodoxy means not thinking—not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness.”
[7:18]—Definition of the Greek word “hairesis.” This also lists other places where this word was used and its meaning.
[8:35]—For more on the history of the Church, check out From Jesus to Constantine: A History of Early Christianity by Bart D. Ehrman.
[18:21]—Quotation from Robin Meyers’ Spiritual Defiance: “Fundamentalists of all stripes love a bully pulpit but hate a roundtable. Why share power when you are right and everyone else is wrong? Who needs dialogue when your monologue is sacrosanct? Why let false prophets into the room when you can bolt the door and preach to the choir?”
[23:10]—When it’s good to be labeled a heretic.
[26:09]—Why we’re frustrated with the Church.
[30:04]—Ramifications of embracing one’s role as a heretic or dissident insider.
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Credits
This episode was written by Gary Alan Taylor and Melanie Mudge (read their bios here) and produced by The Sophia Society.
Music is by Faith in Foxholes, and sound levels were mixed by Melanie Mudge.
