The Cruelty of Heresy: An Affirmation of Christian Orthodoxy [Paperback]

C.FitzSimons Allison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 1994

Ancient heresies have modern expressions which influence our churches and culture, creating cruel dilemmas for the modern Christian in the forms of error, sin, and various distortions of orthodox faith. In this book the author aims to capture the drama and relevance of the Councils of the 4th and 5th centuries, and shows how the achievements of these early struggles still provide guidelines, embodied in the Creeds, for believers who are mystified and disturbed by attempts to jettison key doctrines of the faith.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: SPCK Publishing (July 28, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0281047782
• ISBN-13: 978-0281047789
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,809,246 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Cruelty of Heresy, December 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Cruelty of Heresy: An Affirmation of Christian Orthodoxy (Paperback)

It is not anticipated that the readers will have much familiarity with terms like "Monophysite" and "Eutychian". Furthermore, the expectation is that readers will be under the influence of the media and popular culture and therefore inclined to view orthodoxy as boring and heresy as exciting.

They will probably be surprised by the central thesis of the book, namely, that the Christ of the heretics cannot save us...and they are certainly free to challenge it. But those same readers will in turn be challenged by the compelling argruments advanced by C. FitzSimons Allson, retired Bishop of South Carolina in The Cuelty of Heresy, a very readable text of fewer than two hundred pages. The book's format is wonderfully well expressed and full of memorable examples and analogies from everyday life. (E.g., "the Appollinarian train carries only freight and not people, while the Nestorian train comes through the station but does not stop" for sinners, who must learn to run faster if they want to earn a place on board.)

The importance of an orthodox understanding of Christology and the Holy Trinity is that it points the way to God's saving grace. Both Adoptionism and Gnosticism are forms of spiritual elitism, and they are widespread today. Frequently, they mask themselves as true Christianity, deceiving many good sheep and not a few of the shepherds who are supposed to be guarding the flock.

Heresies are as real, relevant and dangerous as a flask of deadly poison. Bishop Allison demonstrates the cruelty of heresy and the vitality of orthodoxy, contending that heresy is essentially an error of the will whereas faith is a rectitude of the heart. What is perhaps most impressive is that he is able to do so in such a readable and engaging book.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Critical Book For Modern Christians, July 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Cruelty of Heresy: An Affirmation of Christian Orthodoxy (Paperback)

If you are a parent who has ever watched the painful consequences of wrong thinking in your children, you will immediately recognize the value of this book. While this concisely written book is historically accurate and highly beneficial as an introductory work on ancient heresies, it is profoundly valuable for its actual intended purposes: (1) to highlight the fact that heretical opinions are cruel to those who hold them, and (2) to alert and warn the reader that ancient heresies have a way of reappearing in modern forms. If a reader keeps in mind these dual purposes, this book is extremely valuable. It is cogently written in a readable style and its tone is pastoral. Moreover, it is highly practical. It increases the apologist's arsenal with the information that wrong thinking about theology hurts people. Not only are there serious theological implications to holding heretical views, but such views will hurt you, and the last thing a modern Christian wants is discomfort and pain. So, this book is a timely reminder that we should beware of thinking wrongly about God.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Explination of Christology, January 18, 2003

By 

matt (the reading room) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Cruelty of Heresy: An Affirmation of Christian Orthodoxy (Paperback)

Most of the heresies of the early era of the Church were concerned with the nature and person of Christ Jesus. This book delves into the contraversies that surrounded the definitions of the Ecumenical Councils and the key theologians that proposed both hetero and orthodoxy. I know of no other book that so strongly points out the practical consequesnces of theology. Far from dry theoretical speculation, the heart of life's meaning and experience was at stake. Sound over dramatic? Read it for yourself and find out!

Other books of interest may include: "The First Seven Ecumenical Councils" by Leo Davis; "Fathers and Heretics" by Prestige; the works of Georges Florovsky; "INcarnation:Myth or Fact?" by Skarsaune; "Christology" by O'Collins. Enjoy!