Apostasy or Heresy?

Last updated on: June 18, 2014 at 4:06 pm by William Hamblin

Apostasy or Heresy? 2014-06-18T16:06:24-07:00 William Hamblin

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There is an (intentional?) confusion and conflation among some critics of the Church regarding the meaning of the terms heresy and apostasy. Such confusion is not helpful in trying to understand the current situation regarding the Church courts. I already discussed the question of apostasy.

1- The first problem is the confusion that heresy is simply a matter of difference of opinion on doctrinal issues. This is also not the case. Heresy does not consist of different doctrinal opinions. Heresy consists of contradictory belief-claims. That is, Belief A is not merely a passive alternative of Belief B. Heresy occurs which Belief A contradicts Belief B. That is, if Belief B is true, then Belief A cannot be true. A difference of opinion, for example, might occur over the question of whether God created mankind by evolution or special creation. The belief that there is no God, on the other hand, contradicts the belief that God created the cosmos. To attempt to equate heresy with difference of opinion reduces the issues to banality.

2- The second conflation is the claim that apostasy is simply heresy. It is not. Apostasy occurs, in one of its forms, when a “heresy”–contradictory belief claims–result in the apostate engaging in open, public rebellion. The problem is not merely about a difference of opinion, nor even a substantial difference of opinion. Apostasy consists of substantive and consistent public attacks on the Church, its leaders, and its doctrines. And, more importantly, it requires consistently trying to convince other members that the Church’s policies, doctrines, and practices are not only wrong, but that they must be changed.

Ignoring these realities for the purpose of rhetorical posturing and media manipulation does not lend itself to clarity and understanding.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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