Heresy

Overview

In Christianity, heresy (Korean: idan, 異端) refers to teaching that departs from the fundamental doctrines grounded in Scripture and confessed by the historic church, or to the individuals or groups that follow such teaching. Because heretical groups use the name of Christianity, heresy is distinguished from igyo (異敎), a term that denotes a different religion altogether. What counts as heresy depends on what is regarded as orthodoxy. For this reason, when a person or group is described as heretical, it is customary to state who made that judgment.

Meaning and Biblical Usage

The word rendered "heresy" (idan) in Korean Bibles translates the Greek hairesis, which originally meant "sect" or "faction." In Acts 24:5 and 24:14, Jewish accusers referred to the early Christian community as a sect, or "heresy." In Galatians 5:20, Titus 3:10, and 2 Peter 2:1, the term is used for false teaching that divides the community.

Criteria Distinguishing Orthodoxy from Heresy

A representative example from the ancient church is the Council of Nicaea in 325, which rejected Arianism for denying the full deity of the Son. Gnosticism and Pelagianism are also counted among the teachings rejected by the ancient church. Today, Korean Protestant denominations generally take as their standard the ancient creeds, such as the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed, together with each denomination's own confession of faith. The issues chiefly at stake are core doctrines concerning God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, the Bible, the church, and salvation. Matters on which denominations hold differing views, such as the mode of baptism, predestination, and forms of church government, are generally regarded as denominational differences rather than questions of heresy.

Distinction from Pseudo-Religion and Heretical Tendencies

The Korean term saibi (似而非) means "seemingly similar but not genuine" and is usually rendered "pseudo-religion" or "cult." In society at large, it commonly refers to groups that engage in antisocial conduct under the banner of religion. Definitions of heresy and pseudo-religion vary somewhat from denomination to denomination.

• Presbyterian Church in Korea (Hapdong): A report by the Theology Department to the 100th General Assembly defined heresy as a "different gospel" that distorts the doctrines of Scripture and the historic orthodox church. It defined pseudo-religion as quasi-Christianity that is rooted in heretical ideas and engages in antisocial and unethical conduct.
• Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap): According to a research report by the General Assembly's Committee on Heresy and Pseudo-Religion, this denomination has used both terms to mean false teaching, classifying more serious cases as heresy and less serious ones as pseudo-religion. The report itself acknowledged that the two concepts had not previously been clearly distinguished.

Some in the Korean church draw finer gradations of judgment. Groups that partially exhibit heretical elements are described as having "heretical tendencies" (idanseong); those that partially display antisocial characteristics are described as having "pseudo-religious tendencies" (saibiseong); and those who defend such groups are described as "advocates of heresy" (idan ongho).

How the Korean Church Designates Heresy

Korean Protestantism has no single authority representing the church as a whole. Consequently, determinations of heresy are made separately by each denomination's General Assembly and by interdenominational bodies. Presbyterian denominations generally maintain a body such as a Committee on Heresy (and Pseudo-Religion) under the General Assembly. The committee investigates and studies a case, and the General Assembly adopts its report by resolution. Such resolutions apply primarily to the churches and members belonging to that denomination. As a result, denominations sometimes reach different conclusions about the same group, or one body may maintain a judgment that another has lifted. Detailed procedures are covered in the articles Heresy Designation and Heresy Counseling.

Criticism and Controversy

Heresy is a relative concept that presupposes orthodoxy. Those designated as heretical therefore sometimes object that the judgment stems not from doctrinal examination but from the exclusivism of established denominations. Others point out that distinguishing heresy, a matter of doctrine, from pseudo-religion, a matter of antisocial conduct, can reduce unnecessary misunderstanding.