The term “heresy,” hurled by some orthodox commentators, has no more relevance to theological studies than Lysenkoism does to biological studies.
The fact that a particular idea doesn’t fit with the preconceived notions of some self-appointed guardians of received truth doesn’t mean a great deal.
What matters is whether the idea stands up to the test of external reality -- i.e., how well it explains and predicts the universe that God actually created, as opposed to the universe we conceitedly imagine to exist.
I think that standard only works if you assume there's no such thing as eschatology. A lot of Christian precepts aren't testable until after the end of the world, or at least until after you're dead.
And I'm not just talking about apocalyptic End Times stuff. Consider the prediction, "The meek shall inherit the earth." Right now that doesn't test very well, does it?
Posted by: Camassia | October 22, 2004 at 11:19 AM