Heretics

InHereticsJonathanWrightchartsthehistoryofdissentintheChristianChurchthroughthestoriesofsomeofitsmostemblematicheretics--fromArius,afourth-centuryLibyanclericwhodoubtedtheverydivinityofChrist,tomoresuccessfulhereticslikeMartinLutherandJohnCalvin.AshetracestheChurch'sattemptsatenforcingorthodoxyfromthedaysofConstantinetothemodernCatholicChurch'slingeringconflicts,Wrightarguesthatheresy,byforcingtheChurchtocontinuallyrefineandimposeitsbeliefs,actuallyhelpedChristianitytoblossomintooneoftheworld'smostformidableandsuccessfulreligions.Today,allbelieversoweittothemselvestograpplewiththequestionsraisedbyheresy.CanyoubeaChristianwithoutdenouncingheretics?IsitpossiblethatnewideaschallengingChurchdoctrinearedestinedtobecomeaspopularashaveLuther'sonceoutrageoussuggestionsofclericalmarriageandapriesthoodofallbelievers?Adelightfullyreadableanddeeplylearnednewhistory,Hereticsoverturnsourassumptionsabouttheroleofheresyinthefaiththatstillshapestheworld.