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Heresy facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Galileo before the Holy Office
Galileo Galilei was accused of heresy for his scientific ideas.
Burning of jan hus at the stake at council of constance
Burning of Jan Hus at the Council of Constance in 1415.

Heresy is a word used by different religious groups. It describes someone who has ideas that are different from what the religion or law teaches. Such a person is known as a heretic.

In the Middle Ages, it was common to accuse someone of heresy. If the accusations were proven, the person would go through a ritual. Sometimes, harsh methods were used to get confessions. The ritual was done to try and save the soul of the person. This often involved being burned while tied to a post.

Even today, in the 21st century, some Muslims who leave their faith (called apostasy) are treated very harshly. They can even face death.

Famous Cases of Heresy

Jesus Christ was seen as a heretic by the Jewish leaders of his time. You can read about this in the Gospel of Matthew 26:57-67.

The Roman Catholic Church faced challenges from early Christian ideas it considered heretical. Examples include Monophysitism and Arianism. These were different ways of understanding Jesus Christ.

Protestant Views on Heresy

The Catholic Church sees several ideas in Protestantism as heresies. Here are some key differences:

  • Bible vs. Tradition: Protestants believe only the scripture (the Bible) is important for faith (this is called sola scriptura). The Catholic Church says that traditions are also very important.
  • Faith vs. Deeds: Protestants believe that faith alone is enough to be saved (sola fide). Catholics believe that good deeds are also necessary.
  • Priesthood: Protestants believe that anyone can be a priest if they are baptized. In the Catholic and Orthodox churches, priests are specially ordained. This means not everyone is a priest, even if they are baptized.
  • Mass: Protestants do not believe in Transubstantiation during mass (liturgy). This is the Catholic belief that the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ.
  • Roman Missal: Some Protestants believe that the Roman Missal, which is a book of prayers and rituals for Catholic Mass, contains heresies.

Protecting the Church

After the Protestant Reformation, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was created in the Roman Catholic Church. Its job is to protect the Church from ideas it considers heresies. This group is the final authority on what is a heresy and how to deal with it.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Herejía en el catolicismo para niños

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