Heresy and Humanity: Erasmian Retrievals and Overtures
Abstract Something new is afoot in Erasmus’ thinking about heresy and heretics. This essay explores some fundamental shifts in the way Erasmus understands religious life that serve to alter how heresy is conceived and heretics are to be handled—including a change in emphasis from doctrine to ethics...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
2021
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| In: |
Erasmus studies
Year: 2021, Volume: 41, Issue: 1, Pages: 5-32 |
| IxTheo Classification: | CG Christianity and Politics KAG Church history 1500-1648; Reformation; humanism; Renaissance NBA Dogmatics NCA Ethics |
| Further subjects: | B
Ethics
B Heresy B Fallibility B History B Erasmus |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) Volltext (Verlag) |
| Summary: | Abstract Something new is afoot in Erasmus’ thinking about heresy and heretics. This essay explores some fundamental shifts in the way Erasmus understands religious life that serve to alter how heresy is conceived and heretics are to be handled—including a change in emphasis from doctrine to ethics for the sake of human flourishing; an embrace of fallibility in lieu of certitude to make way for fruitful conversation between adversaries; a surprisingly strong appreciation of the historicity of everything ecclesial; and too a cautious yet ultimately ironic concession for public authorities to use force in the persecution of heretics. With these underlying moves, Erasmus’ thinking about heresy represents a significant overture to a modern and pluralistic policy toward difference and dissidence framed by a humanistic ethic retrieved from biblical sources. In the end, Erasmus leaves no room for the persecution of those deemed heretics. |
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| Contains: | Enthalten in: Erasmus studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/18749275-04101003 |