Author Topic: Is a Hindu a Heretic? (Read 833 times)

Lover of Truth · « **on:** February 27, 2010, 07:55:31 AM »

Can anyone clarify whether or not a Hindu is a (material) Heretic? I thought it was obvious that he is. But I may have missed something or forgot something I previously learned.

Also would it be better for a material heretic to rule the Church than a formal heretic. If someone with no knowledge about the Catholic faith as taught through 1960 gets elected should we accept him?

Jamie · « **Reply #1 on:** February 27, 2010, 01:43:51 PM »

Quote from: Lover of Truth

Can anyone clarify whether or not a Hindu is a (material) Heretic? I thought it was obvious that he is. But I may have missed something or forgot something I previously learned.

I thought only Catholics could be heretics - ie, one who held the faith and then rejected parts of it.

Whereas, a Hindu is a pagan (along with the Jєωs and Muslims), Orthodox are schismatics, and protestants are apostates.

All of these groups believe heresy in one way or another - such is the nature of the groups to which they adhere.

Alexandria · « **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2010, 01:49:47 PM »

Jamie that's an apostate - one who was a Catholic and rejected the Faith.

Jamie · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2010, 02:07:59 PM »

Quote from: Alexandria

Jamie that's an apostate - one who was a Catholic and rejected the Faith.

I didn't mean rejection of the entire faith. Here is what the Catholic Encyclopedia says:

"Heresy differs from apostasy. The apostate a fide abandons wholly the faith of Christ either by embracing Judaism, Islamism, Paganism, or simply by falling into naturalism and complete neglect of religion; the heretic always retains faith in Christ."

Raoul76 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2010, 03:24:35 PM »

As I understand it, the Protestants are heretics and schismatics, sometimes only material heretics, but due to their schism out of the Church and unable to be saved. Their worship services are mortal sins and sacrileges.

A Hindu is a pagan, who worships false gods, although in our time we tend to think of the average unbeliever as a "pagan" as well, when they are atheists or agnostics and don't believe in ANY gods, let alone God.

It always sounds wrong when I try to describe myself before baptism as a "pagan," as if I worshiped Hulu-Mulu the Rain God and tore hearts out of chests. But I guess it fits in a way because Christ, when describing the Second Coming, says "All the tribes of the Earth will mourn." It's not as if everyone on Earth is going to be a Native American. He means that almost everyone is going to have a pagan attitude. Hence you have all these Gentiles that look like Maoris with tattoos and earrings.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #5 on:** February 27, 2010, 07:26:40 PM »

Hindus are infidels. If a person goes from being a professed Christian to being an infidel, then he's also an apostate.

Hindus cannot be heretics.

Nor can there be such a thing as "material" infidels.

So referring to a Hindu as a material heretic is incorrect on two counts.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2010, 07:31:42 PM »

Quote from: Jamie

"...the heretic always retains faith in Christ."

That bit from the Catholic Encyclopedia could be misconstrued and is very poorly worded. Formal heretics do not retain [supernatural] "faith" in Christ. They profess some kind of faith in Him and perhaps have a natural belief in Him. But a formal pertinacious heretic loses the faith completely by having sinned against and rejected the formal motive of faith.