Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Heresies and Definitions

Inspired by a conversation at Pro Ecclesia, I started thinking up some modern responses to ancient heresies. 'Tis a shame that heresy is fashionable nowadays. What answers would you get, if you asked folks about:

Arianism - "Those are the 'White Power' dudes, right?"

Pelagianism - "Isn't that a disease?"

Montanism - "Rock climbing addiction."

Donatism - "Giving stuff to charity."

Antinomianism - "Umm, they want to be anonymous?"

Modalism - "Insisting on ice cream with pie."

Adoptionism - "Adopting too many children."

Marcionism - "Believing in aliens."

Nestorianism - "Homes should only be made out of twigs?"

Anyone else?

New additions, and more modern heresies:

Monophysytism - "Say that again, I didn't catch that. What? I still don't get it."

Calvinism - "A quote from the comic strip 'Calvin and Hobbes'." [as opposed to Far Sidism]

8 comments:

The Bovina Bloviator said...

I suggest an alternative meaning for Modalism: an egregious and heretical tendency in composition to eschew diatonic harmony in favor of modal harmony, e.g. Dorian, Mixolydian, Phrygian et al.

Brother James said...

Modes are a mite too intellectual for the average joe. I may get that answer if I conduct the survey outside the UNL College of Music.

My own musical tastes tend to the stochastic.

Nicholodeon said...

Ecumenism is the modern heresy according to our Synod of Bishops.

This blog is wonderful. Is that the icon of St. Iakovos? It's too small for me to make out.

The Bovina Bloviator said...

My own musical tastes tend to the stochastic.

Nothing like a Xenakis ditty to get one's toe tapping.

Brother James said...

Nich, The ikon is that of St. James, as I understand it.

As for Ecumenism, it falls somewhere between Syncretism and Evangelism, but leaning more towards the former.

Bovina, you should check out some of Karlheinz Essl's work.

Anonymous said...

Very funny!

Russ Rentler, M.D. said...

Here's one for yah St. Jim Bob!
Alvinism: The belief that a Chipmunk can never lose his salvation

Nicholodeon said...

Iakovos = James, so it is such a lovely icon.