And One More Thing ...

I have to take my wife out (that's another whole story) but I want to make something clear to Demetrius which was instilled in me by my wonderful teacher Professor Boid. When I started corresponding with him, I like most people who studied the heretics wanted them to be 'right' and the orthodox to be all 'wrong' and the heretical tradition to be something wild and completely different from the orthodox.

The more I put together bits and pieces about the Marcionites (of whom Boid was more or less ignorant at least with regards to the specifics) my teacher would say things like 'what you are describing is utterly in keeping with orthodoxy.'

It would actually annoy me because I wanted them to be 'something completely different.'

Boid is a reader in the Anglican Church. He would always warn me against the American evangelical heresy which has distorted the original concepts and meanings within the Church.

The point then is that it is highly unlikely if - as we see from the Church Fathers - that the 'gnostics' managed to fit within the fold of Catholics (hence the title of his book) that they could have strayed very far from orthodox teachings.

Indeed if they were just a bunch of hippies 'dreaming up' silly fables about powers in heaven there would have been no need for the Church to punish these people. The Jews and Samaritans have always allowed this kind of speculation and their traditions have managed just fine.

The reason why 'the gnostics' were dangerous was owing to the implications of their arguments regarding a 'ruler above the Lord of this world.' Of course it was a Jew - Harold Bloom - who could see the implication of this doctrine (because it also exists in Judaism).

The Roman Church wanted all attention and devotion paid to it. The problem was that there was a large segment of the worldwide Church which were 'hanifim' - i.e. only flattered them and pretended to accept their authority. They continued to view the Alexandrian bishop (the 'real Alexandrian bishop' in the case of Origen) GNOSTICALLY - i.e. as representing the living incarnation of Christ.

That's why the Romans eventually adopted the title Papa from the Alexandrians to accord their bishop the status of being the earthly authority 'standing in the place' of Christ.

If you can't beat 'em join 'em.

Got to run ...