Sabellianism

Sabellianism: The Modalist Controversy and the Church’s Understanding of the Trinity

Leave a Comment / History / /

The third century witnessed one of the most significant theological controversies in the early Church, a dispute that would fundamentally shape Christian understanding of God’s nature for centuries to come. Sabellianism, also known as Modalism or modalistic monarchianism, emerged as a serious challenge to orthodox Christian teaching about the relationship between the Father, Son, and […]

Sabellianism: The Modalist Controversy and the Church’s Understanding of the Trinity Read More »

Adoptionism

Adoptionism: The Early Church’s Battle for the Divine Sonship of Christ

Leave a Comment / History / /

The second and third centuries of the Christian era witnessed a succession of theological controversies that would shape the doctrinal foundations of the Catholic faith for all subsequent ages. Among these early disputes, Adoptionism stands as one of the most significant challenges to orthodox Christology. This heresy, which asserted that Jesus Christ was born as

Adoptionism: The Early Church’s Battle for the Divine Sonship of Christ Read More »

Donatism

When Holiness Became a Weapon: The Donatist Controversy

Leave a Comment / History / /

The story of Donatism starts with something recognisable: a church split over purity. Fourth-century North Africa saw Christian communities tear themselves apart over a question that still surfaces today. If your priest or bishop has sinned badly, maybe even betrayed Christ, can they still administer valid sacraments? The Donatists said no. The wider Church, especially

When Holiness Became a Weapon: The Donatist Controversy Read More »

Marcionism

Marcionism and the Early Church Response

Leave a Comment / History / /

Introduction The second century presented the nascent Christian church with numerous theological challenges, yet few proved as consequential as the teachings of Marcion of Sinope. This wealthy shipowner turned religious teacher arrived in Rome around 140 AD with ideas that would shake the foundations of Christian orthodoxy and force the church to clarify its core

Marcionism and the Early Church Response Read More »

The Ghost of Mani: Why the Ancient Heresy of Dualism Still Haunts Catholic Thought

Leave a Comment / History / /

​I. Introduction: Manichaeism—A Universal Religion of Cosmic Despair ​Manichaeism represents one of the most intellectually sophisticated and historically impactful challenges to the nascent Catholic faith. Founded in the third century AD by the Parthian Iranian prophet Mani (c. 216–274) in the Sasanian Empire, it quickly established itself as a major world religion. While sometimes described

The Ghost of Mani: Why the Ancient Heresy of Dualism Still Haunts Catholic Thought Read More »

inattentional blindness

The Invisible Foul: A Pool Table Parable on Spiritual Blindness

Leave a Comment / Practica / /

There are few things more instructive than watching an honest man be perfectly wrong. I had occasion to observe this curious phenomenon during what should have been an unremarkable game of pool. My friend, and he is both friend and honest man, stood over the final shot, the black ball between him and victory. My

The Invisible Foul: A Pool Table Parable on Spiritual Blindness Read More »

Grasping at God: Why We Must Let Go and Let Grace In

Leave a Comment / Scripture, Theology / /

In that strange and sobering tale from the First Book of Samuel, the Ark of the Covenant is returned to the Israelites after wreaking havoc among the Philistines. It had crushed Dagon, the god of grain and thunder, in his own temple—first knocking him face-down before the Ark, then shattering his head and hands on

Grasping at God: Why We Must Let Go and Let Grace In Read More »

The Deadly Religion of the Self: Chesterton’s Timeless Warning

4 Comments / Theology / /

The deadly religion of the self is everywhere today — in self-help slogans, modern spirituality, and the worship of the “god within.” But long before this inner idol re-emerged, G.K. Chesterton had already exposed its fatal flaws. In Chapter 5 of Orthodoxy, he delivers a timeless warning: self-worship is not just mistaken. It’s destructive. Only

The Deadly Religion of the Self: Chesterton’s Timeless Warning Read More »

Scroll to Top