ON HERESY - 1964 - Author's Object and Changing Pattern of Heretical Attitudes

Oct 13, 2026

Karl Rahner examines heresy as a modern, often implicit phenomenon rather than only a formally defined false religious doctrine. He argues that contemporary heresy may coexist with verbal orthodoxy and correct caution, appearing chiefly in moral attitudes, moods, and viewpoints. Rather than encouraging a search for secret heretics, the study traces how earlier Church methods of official repression are no longer effective, shifting the burden to individual conscience and prudent vigilance when teaching authority can no longer clearly denounce errors.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages76

Reading Time3 h 12 min

AccessFree to download

ABOUT THE BOOK

QUAESTIONES DISPUTATAE

THE CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TOWARDS HERESY

The concept of heresy in Christianity

Two factors determining the attitude to truth

Karl Rahner On Heresy 11 $1.75 ON HERESY1广73 # ABOUT THE BOOK Heresy,according to Karl Rahner,today is not so much aformulated,false religious doctrine as a hidden and latentphenomenon.Its peculiar danger is to remain implicit,notas in former times to be expressed in explicit propositions.It may indeed coexist with a verbal orthodoxy and ananxious,"correct"care never to express views that mightconflict with the official doctrine.In the form of moralattitudes,moods and points of view,heresy today is notnecessarily directed against the faith;it may even springfrom Christian opposition to heresy or outmoded views. The author's object in tracing the changing pattern ofheretical attitudes is not to encourage a hunt for secretheretics but to show that the meansemployed bythe Churchto combat heresy in the past,chiefly by official repression,are no longer effective.The battle against the modern formof implicit heresy is a task increasingly incumbent on theconscience of the individual.Where the teaching authorityof the Church is no longer able,or only with great diffi-culty or in general terms,to denounce,the individualChristian is in a better position by prudent and wisevigilance to redress the false proportions,exaggerationsand onesidedness of the faith. # QUAESTIONES DISPUTATAE ON HERESY 1964 HERDER AND HERDER NEW YORK232 Madison Avenue,New York 16,N.Y. Original edition“Was ist Haresie?”,a part of the work“Haresien der Zeit”edited by A.Böhm,published by Herder,Freiburg.Translated by W.J.O'Hara Nihil Obstat:Joannes M.T.Barton,S.T.D.,L.S.S.,Censor deputatusImprimatur:+Georgius L.Craven,Epus.Sebastopolis,Vic.Gen.Westmonasterii,die 132 Jan,1964 The Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur are a declaration that a bookor pamphlet is considered to be free from doctrinal or moral error.It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat and Imprimaturagree with the contents,opinions or statements expressed. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number:64-13200First published in West Germany 1964 Herder KGPrinted in West Germany by Herder CONTENTS I The Christian Attitude towards Heresy ·.·. 7 II The Traditional Concept of Heresy and the Heretic,and the Problems it entails ........25 Ⅲ The Changing Pattern of Heresy ····..41 I THE CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TOWARDS HERESY THE history of Christianity is also a history of heresies and con-sequently of the attitudes adopted byChristianity and the Churchtowards heresy,and so involves a history of the concept ofheresy itself.In all religions that possess any kind of definitedoctrine,that is,in all the higher religions,there are differencesof opinion about that doctrine and as a consequence quarrelsand conflict about it and about the socially organized forms inwhich the different religious views find expression.To thatextent we might say that the concept of heresy is exemplifiedin all the more highly developed religions.But caution is needed,nevertheless,for it is readily observed that religious wars areonly found in Christendom.However much this assertion maycall for qualification,and whatever more precise explanationis given,(for much that is involved may,of course,have littleto do with Christianity itself),the assertion,though disputable,does draw attention to something.It is only in Christianitythat a certain quite definite and very radical attitude to truth isfound.This is the source of a quite specific view of heresy andthat is why heresy is only really found here. Two factors probably determine the attitude to truth towhich we refer.One is the awareness that a revelation of truthby God himself has occurred as an event located quite precisely ON HERESY in space and time in certain quite definite human beings.Theother is the awareness that this truth itself,as such,is importantfor salvation.In short,an awareness of the historical characterof an absolute truth intrinsically important for salvation.Inorder to make clear why and how there follows from this a

FAQs

How does Karl Rahner define heresy in his study?

He treats heresy as an implicit and latent phenomenon in modern times, not merely as a formulated false religious doctrine expressed through explicit propositions.

What does the author say about the danger of heresy today?

The danger lies in remaining implicit—often coexisting with verbal orthodoxy and with an anxious, “correct” practice of avoiding views that conflict with official doctrine.

What is the author’s purpose in tracing heretical attitudes?

He aims to show that earlier Church responses, especially official repression, are no longer effective against modern implicit heresy, making it increasingly a task for individual conscience and wise vigilance.

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by Anna Hans