John W Burgeson wrote:
>
> >>What little I have seen on their theology suggests that they
> denied that Jesus was both fully God and fully man. >>
>
> Are you saying that if one denies that Jesus was both fully God and fully
> human then that person is necessarily not a Christian, and therefore is
> not saved?
>
> If so, are there other statements you would add to this list?
The Cathars had a Manichaean world view - i.e., a dualism with an eternal evil
principle on the same ontological level as the eternal good principle = God. Matter is
evil and spirits are trapped in it & have to be freed through a series of reincarnations
culminating in a perfect life by which release from the material world can be gained.
This is very similar to classical gnosticism, & the christology of the Cathars was also
essentially gnostic - i.e., a heavenly redeemer taking on the appearance of a body to
show the way to salvation.
Whether or not people holding such beliefs can be saved should be left to God to
decide. That these ideas are profoundly contradictory of fundamental Christian beliefs
about creation and redemption is quite clear. While individuals should be allowed to
hold to such teachings, they should not be tolerated in the Christian church.
Shalom,
George
Shalom,
George
George L. Murphy
gmurphy@raex.com
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
Received on Sat Mar 6 15:57:44 2004
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