John K

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Malleus Arianorum

It is a thing equally deplorable and dangerous, that there are as many creeds as opinions among men, as many doctrines as inclinations, and as many sources of blasphemy as there are faults among us; because we make creeds arbitrarily, and explain them as arbitrarily. The Homoousion is rejected, and received, and explained away by successive synods. The partial or total resemblance of the Father and of the Son is a subject of dispute for these unhappy times. Every year, nay, every moon, we make new creeds to describe invisible mysteries. We repent of what we have done, we defend those who repent, we anathematize those whom we defended. We condemn either the doctrine of others in ourselves, or our own in that of others; and reciprocally tearing one another to pieces, we have been the cause of each other's ruin.

-- St. Hilary of Poitiers (300-367 AD)

2 Comments:

  • So what's the solution? Isn't drawing the line necessary?

    By Blogger Christopher, At 1:32 PM  

  • A solution to what problem? What is true doctrine? True interpretation of scripture? I would say that catholicity is the answer, but such a principle is not easily applied in all cases.

    By Blogger johnk, At 5:53 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]



<< Home