This post forms part of a synchroblog, “Emerging Heresy”. For other contributors, see below.
A nanoplay in 8 acts.
- Someone has a “revelation”: enter the prophet / shaman / seer/ discoverer/ inventor/ author/ entrepreneur.
- A community forms around the revelation: enter the evangelist / apostle / articulator / raconteur.
- The community grows and becomes a politic, which needs to be organised: enter the pastor / priest / curate/ administrator / coordinator.
- Part of this organisation is to describe the doctrine of the group: enter the scribe / theoretician / expert.
- These laws become reinforced in the consciousness of the group, as an empire grows: enter the teacher / policy maker / marketeer / spin doctor / taste maker.
- Someone has a revelation, as a critic of this consciousness, or just because truth is always emerging: re-enter the prophet / shaman stage left. But simultaneously something else happens:
- The judge / inquisitor / policeman comes on stage right. A trial begins. Outcome:
- The new revelation is accepted and the group reforms and adjusts its doctrine and practice.
- If that revelation is contrary to the groups current doctrine (conscious/overt laws) or ethos (unconscious mores and taboos), enter the executioner, announce the new revelation as heresy, and the prophet/shaman as heretic, excommunicate the prophet, demonise the revelation, and begin the inevitable demise of the empire.
Contributors to the synchroblog
- Aratus – The Gender of the Creator and Face forward
- Cobusvw – Conversing with the heretics
- FakeExpressionsOfTheUnknown Who’s Heresy
- Liquid Light – Coming out a heretic emerges
- Mike Smith – Emerging Heresy
- Nic Paton – The Life Cycle of Heresy and The Blessings of Heresy
- Roger Saner Towards a heretical orthodoxy
- Ryan Peters – Calling the “H” word and dropping the “H” bomb
- Steve Hayes Cult
- Tim Victor – Confessions of a heretic
Sound and Silence 
In my opinion … or is that assumed as a constant when commenting on a blog post … Jesus Christ was a heretic. Christianity started as heresy and I agree most wholeheartedly with Nic that empires that can’t embrace heresy will fall.
I was a heretic before and I was never ashamed of it but since becoming Christian I have found an active reason to be proud of my heretical nature. I want to become more like Jesus in every way possible.
Heresy is a term used with much distaste in the world of Church but is in fact exactly the same cycle actively employed in today’s structure of the scientific world. If I take for a moment the overused and exhausted but reassuringly familiar example that Albert Einstein has become. He believed, if you will, in standard science of the universe except for the single fact that space and time were constant. He had a revelation about space and time that changed its properties with the movement of mass through it and went on to publish this revelation. He went on to write a paper outlining this revelation but it had to be passed by journal reviewers before becoming a part of accepted/standard science.
If science was not able to accept his heresy the world of science would have fallen away from the search for truth/understanding of the universe.
If Faiths also cannot accept heresy they too will fall further and further away from Truth. Long live heresy and the acceptance of it.
Thomas S Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions definately opened many an eye to this. Unfortunately, innovation is often viewed as heresy, as a denial of one truth in favour of another. The problem for me is when the theological police prevent innovation, prevent healthy growth.
I am ashamed to admit that at one stage I carried a baton. I gave up my baton a while ago and traded it for a fishing rod.
I was scratching my head for examples and your Kuhn book is it I think – thanks. I think its very instructive to study a paradigm unlike the one we are predominantly in. That means to study history of science and discovery can give us insights not possible if we stick to a strictly theological POV.
I guess we all carried badges and batons at some time or other. This seems to be a normal part of the life cycle, unfortunately.
Nic.
ja i’ve got a dusty copy of Kuhn’s book in my folks loft and would post it off to you if it was closer. the scientific community would like to think that it objectively appraises new information or perspectives as it arises, makes a reasonable & rational judgement & adjusts accordingly.
unfortunately the scientific inquisition & dictatorship looks all too real.
your nanoplay in 8 acts hits the nail on the head.
viva squire….
Nic your Articles on heresy really thought provoking- strikes a chord what about the rise and fall of the new covenant church empire with dudley daniels and co ? Just saying …. At the time the apsotolic / prophetic speak was accepted next to holy writ !!!
Thanks Jonathan. We need to remain holy skeptical of fear driven orthodoxies like the one you mention. I’m glad someone else is trying to get the view from outside the zoo…
Thanks for your discussion forum nick real truth can stand up to debate and scrutiny. -I love your writing as you take time to explore and probe the great questions of our time; meaning and purpose; love and loss; hope and despair_ all the best jonathan
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