Heresy: Material and Formal
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Dmitri’s been stirring up muddy waters talking about heresy. In the old days, the EOC catechism by Randall Evans borrowed from the Roman Catholic tradition in distinguishing between formal heresy and material heresy. I still find this distinction useful, and especially important in the pluralism of contemporary American Christianity.
EWTN has a definition of heresy, apostasy and schism, and it notes the distinction between material and formal species of each. Essentially, material heretics hold heretical beliefs but only as a result of being raised that way. They have never been taught what is true, and they could not have come by the knowledge except through the Church, because it is Christian revelation. In other words, they do not know any better. Formal heretics once knew better, and then willfully accepted false teachings.
As you can see, the same distinctions can apply to schismatics, as well.
It is very important to understand this distinction. However, perhaps more important is to understand, as Scottish mentioned, the extremely negative connotations surrounding the word. It’s like shouting, “N——!” in a crowded Harlem theater.
I’m just waxing pontifical here, so take my hot air for whatever you think it’s worth. Perhaps the only safe place to talk about heresy, calling it what it is, in the context of the Church. In catechism, people are already aware that what they’ve known previously isn’t working. Even in inquirer’s class, people might not be so receptive to being told they’re heretics, true or not.
As Peter Parker likes to say, “With great power comes great responsibility.”