Today, on this the last day of the liturgical year, we commemorate (yes, commemorate) heretics and rogues. I’m not talking here about the nutters who use “religion” to make a fast buck, or bolster a false sense of ego. I am however, talking about the thoughtful, and thought provoking, men and women of faith over the centuries who raised an issue, proposed an idea, or challenged the existing trend in “orthodox” thought.

Why?

Simple, without Valentinian, Arius, Nestorius, and others the shape of Christianity – and our OC/IC expression of Christianity would be very different indeed. To talk about, for example, Christology without giving a respectful nod to Arius and Nestorius would be little more than historical revisionism, and lack serious amounts of integrity on our part.

These folks proposed an idea, they shared a moment of inspiration, with faithfulness, and in good faith they engaged with those ideas and issues surrounding their own. They lost in the grand scheme of things – but their impact on theology and praxis out-lived them.

So, today, raise a glass to the heretic, say a prayer to commemorate and even celebrate, heresey, and heresiarchs, because without them the shape of our faith would be a very different thing.