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Heretical Christians

From Left to Right - Provincial Bishop Charlene Bradley, Archbishop Thomas Twose and Archbishop Philip Bradley All Bishops in full Apostolic Succession and Valid Orders with Historic Christian/Catholic Beliefs and Lineage.

There has to be some boundary between True/historical Christians and Heretical Christians. Historically, that boundary has been the creeds of the early church, which teach things like the trinity, the resurrection, and basic ideas about the church. All the mainstream Christian denominations believe these creeds.

But there are some fringe groups that not only reject the beliefs of the creeds, but think that Christians have been deceived for centuries by believing them. So, these groups are considered heretical Christians by the standards of historic Christianity.

While the term "heretical" can be contentious, some “Christian” groups that differ significantly from historic, mainstream doctrine include historical heresies like Arianism and Gnosticism, and modern groups such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and some non-trinitarian churches. These groups are often labeled as heretical for denying core Christian tenets like the Trinity or the divinity of Jesus.

Historically Heretical Christians

Arianism: Taught that Jesus was a created being, not consubstantial with God the Father. This theology was formally condemned at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
Gnosticism: A diverse set of movements that often included a belief in secret knowledge, a rejection of the material world, and dualistic ideas about a supreme deity and a lesser creator god.
Donatism: A schismatic movement in North Africa that arose after the persecutions under Diocletian, denying the validity of sacraments administered by bishops who had lapsed and betrayed their faith during that time.
Catharism: A medieval dualistic religion that flourished in Southern France and Italy, viewing the material world as evil and believing in a path of spiritual perfection through austerity.

Modern Churches Viewed As Heretical Christians

A Credence Table and an Altar - Set up in a Home Church for a Traditional Roman/Latin Rite Mass

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Let's start with the Mormons, or as they are officially called, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They're by far the biggest of these heretical Christian groups and have the most interesting architecture for their temples. They were started in America in 1830 by Joseph Smith. Joined by his brother Hiram.

Belief based on revelation: According to teachings derived from revelations attributed to Joseph Smith, the Garden of Eden was located in Jackson County, Missouri, and Adam and Eve's beginnings were in that area.
Location: The specific location is often described as being in the area of present-day Independence, Missouri.
Associated sacred sites: The belief is tied to the LDS people's connection to Missouri, which includes the establishment of settlements and the naming of sites like Adam-ondi-Aham.
Flexibility in belief: While a prominent belief among members, it is not considered a core article of faith, and there is a wide range of allowance for personal interpretation on the topic.

They think one of the lost tribes of Israel made their way to the Americas and became the Native Americans. They believe Jesus appeared to the Americans after his ascension. They believe the angel Moroni left invisible golden tablets in upstate New York which Joseph Smith found and transcribed into the Book of Mormon.

Mormons see the Book of Mormon as another testament of holy scripture in addition to the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. And they have some other holy scriptures as well. (The Book of Wisdom and the Pearl of Great Price.) But the things in these Mormon scriptures contradict historic Christianity. For example, Mormons believe God was once a man like we are and we can become gods like God is.

But Christians believe that God has always existed and never changes. Christians also believe in the Trinity where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all one being. They're all the same God and are only different in their relations to each other.

But Mormons believe that they are three different beings, essentially meaning they believe in three gods. They also believe black people's dark skin was a curse from God until God changed his mind in 1978. Actually, since Christians and Mormons believe in different gods, they can't be said to be the same religion.Most are wonderful people doing good works, yet, by definition they are heretical Christians.

Married Clergy Kneel Before the Altar In a St. Brigit's Community Catholic Church, Home Church Where Jesus Christ is Worshiped as Our Savior, The Begotten Son of God and the Second Person in the Holy Trinity of God.

Jehovah's Witnesses

The Jehovah's Witnesses are a lot more extreme and cult-like than the Mormons. They're an apocalyptic cult, meaning they think the world is ending soon. So, they isolate from society, but they still go out into the world to spread their beliefs. They completely reject the Trinity and think Jesus was just an angel, not God, which is why they're heretical according to historic Christianity.

Jehovah's Witnesses are a non-trinitarian, millenarian Christian denomination known for their extensive evangelism, distributing publications such as The Watchtower and Awake!, and for their refusal of blood transfusions, military service, and most traditional holidays.

Key Beliefs

God: They worship one Almighty God, whose personal name they consider to be Jehovah, a vocalization of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton (YHWH).
Jesus Christ: Jesus is honored as the Son of God and Savior, but not as part of a Trinity or equal to God. They believe he was God's first creation, the archangel Michael, who came to earth as a perfect human, died on a single upright torture stake (not a cross), and was resurrected as a spirit being.
Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is considered to be God's "active force," not a distinct person.
The Afterlife: They do not believe in an immortal soul or a fiery hell of torment. Death is a state of nonexistence. They believe a limited number of faithful followers (144,000) will be resurrected to heaven to rule with Christ, while the majority of the faithful will be resurrected to live forever on a paradise earth.
Armageddon and the End Times: They believe the current world system is under the influence of Satan and that God's Kingdom, which began ruling invisibly in heaven in 1914, will soon bring about the battle of Armageddon to destroy all wickedness and human governments, establishing a paradise on earth.

Practices and Lifestyle

Worship: Meetings for worship and study are held twice a week in modest buildings called Kingdom Halls. Meetings are open to the public, involve audience participation, and focus on Bible study and Watch Tower Society literature.
Evangelism: All members are expected to regularly participate in organized evangelism, typically going door-to-door, using public literature carts, or via phone and mail witnessing.
Abstinence from Blood: They strictly refuse whole blood transfusions and do not consume food containing blood, based on their interpretation of biblical commands. They carry advance medical directives to this effect.
Neutrality and Separation: Jehovah's Witnesses maintain strict political neutrality and refuse to participate in military service, salute flags, or vote, viewing human society as corrupt and separate from God's organization.
Holidays: They do not celebrate holidays such as Christmas, Easter, or birthdays, considering them to have pagan origins or to be unscriptural. Their only annual observance is the Memorial of Christ's Death.

Organization

The denomination is directed by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, an all-male group at their world headquarters in Warwick, New York, which establishes all doctrines. Disagreement with official teachings can lead to expulsion and shunning by other members. As of 2024, there are approximately 9 million Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide.

The Nativity Scene - A Universal Symbol of Christianity and the Christmas Season. Catholics See the Communion of Saints as Intercessors, Carrying Our Prayers and Petitions to Heavenly Father With Whom They Now Reside.

The Spiritualists

The spiritualists were founded in 1800's America, just like Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. Noticing a pattern?

It's pretty clear why they're heretical Christian and not historically Christian.

Spiritualists are people who believe that the spirits of the dead can communicate with the living, often through a medium. This belief is the basis of Spiritualism, a movement that was particularly popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries and is based on the idea that a person's soul continues to exist after death in a spirit world. Spiritualists believe spirits can provide guidance, and some mediums facilitate these communications through trance or other phenomena.

Core beliefs

Survival of the soul: Spiritualists believe that the human soul survives bodily death and continues to exist in a spirit world.
Communication with spirits: A central tenet is that spirits can and do communicate with the living, and that the living can communicate with spirits.
Role of the medium: A medium is a person who acts as a "go-between" and is believed to have the ability to facilitate contact with the spirit world.
Spirit evolution: The spirit world is not seen as static; spirits continue to exist and evolve there, potentially offering advice to the living.
Holistic healing: Spiritualists may also believe in spiritual healing, which addresses the spirit, mind, and emotions to help the body heal itself.

History and context

19th-century movement: Modern Spiritualism gained significant popularity in 19th-century America and Europe.
A crisis of faith: Its rise was partly fueled by crises of faith, such as those caused by the high death tolls of events like the American Civil War.
The Fox sisters: The movement is often credited with starting in 1848 in Rochester, New York, with the perceived communications of the Fox sisters.
Spiritism: A related but distinct movement developed by Allan Kardec is called Spiritism, which is a branch of Spiritualism more prevalent in Latin America and emphasizes reincarnation.

Modern spiritualists

Today, Spiritualism continues as a religion and social movement, with Spiritualist churches and organizations existing around the world.
Many contemporary spiritualists continue to believe that spirits can communicate and that mediums can facilitate this connection, though their practices and beliefs can vary.

A Simple Wooden Cross With a Rosary Draped Over it - The Empty Cross is a Symbol of the Risen Christ. Risen and Alive His Second Coming Will Leave No Doubt as to His Return or His Identity Leaving no Room or Doubt as to the Status of Mere Humans Masquerading as Christ.

Unification Church

Next up as heretical Christians is the Unification Church or Moonies for short because it was founded by a South Korean named Sunyong Moon. The Unification Church is also known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), is a religious movement founded in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon in South Korea. It is known for its unique Christian theology, which includes Moon as a messiah figure, and its mass "Blessing"/marriage ceremonies that unite couples. The church has faced controversy regarding its fundraising practices, past recruitment tactics, and its involvement in politics.

History and founding

Founded: In 1954 by Sun Myung Moon in Seoul, South Korea.
Original name: The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (HSA-UWC).
Current name: Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) since 1994.

Beliefs and Practices

Messiah: Followers believe Moon was the second coming of Christ, tasked with completing Jesus's mission to establish an ideal family and a new lineage free from sin.
Divine Principle: The foundational text that outlines the movement's theology.
Mass weddings: Known as "Blessing" ceremonies, these events unite couples, often arranged by the church, to create "True Families" and promote world peace.
Restoration: The core belief is to restore humanity to a state of original goodness, which began with Moon and his wife, Hak Ja Han(referred to as the "True Parents").
Controversial teachings: The church has been criticized for its anti-gay teachings and conservative social views.

Controversy and Criticism

Donations: The church has been accused of coercive fundraising practices, with allegations that members were pressured to donate large sums of money. This led to a 2025 ruling in Japan ordering the church's dissolution due to its impact on public welfare.
Recruitment: In the past, the church faced accusations of brainwashing and "mind control" tactics to recruit and retain followers.
Politics and business: The church has a significant presence in business, media, and politics, which has sparked debate and controversy over its influence. Examples include ownership of publications like The Washington Times and past involvement in anti-communist activism.

The Unitarian Universalists

The Unitarian Universalists aren't exactly a cult because they're very loose and liberal, but they definitely reject historic Christianity and thus stand as heretical Christians. It's basically a church for atheists.

They were formed in the 20th century as a union of the Unitarians who reject the trinity and the universalists who reject hell. If you combine these two beliefs, you get the idea that all religions worship the same God. And that leads to the idea that it doesn't really matter what you believe about God. That's what they believe to this day.

Unitarian Universalists (UUs) are adherents of a liberal religion characterized by a commitment to theological diversity, inclusivity, and social justice, rather than a single creed or dogma. UUs draw wisdom from various religious and philosophical sources, including world religions, science, and personal experience, and covenant to guide their lives by a set of shared principles that emphasize compassion, ethical living, and social justice.

Core Beliefs and Practices

Non-credal religion: UUs are not bound by a single set of doctrines. Instead, they are united by shared values and principles, and individuals are free to hold their own beliefs.
Diverse spiritual sources: UUs draw inspiration from a wide array of sources, including Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and humanism, and are encouraged to seek their own truth and meaning.
Focus on action: The faith is "non-creedal," meaning there is no single dogma to believe in. UUs instead focus on living out their values in the world, particularly through social justice work, peace, and respect for the environment.
Welcoming and inclusive: Unitarian Universalism is known for its commitment to inclusivity, actively welcoming people of all ages, abilities, racial, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds, as well as those in the LGBTQI+ community.
Eight Principles: UUs covenant to follow eight principles that serve as a moral and spiritual guide, such as love, respect, and a commitment to justice and equity.

History and Structure

Historical roots: The modern Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) was formed in 1961 by the consolidation of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America.
Congregational structure: UU congregations can have varied structures. Some are led by ordained ministers, while others are led by their members.
Local and national bodies: In the United States, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)serves congregations, while the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC)performs a similar role in Canada.

Unitarians

Unitarians are a community of people of many different religious beliefs. And they openly say that it doesn't really matter what you believe religiously because what unites them isn't their beliefs about God, but their commitment to social justice.

That's because most of them don't see God as a being that actually exists, but they just ask, "How can the idea of a loving God inspire us to love other people better?" So the only difference between most of them and hardcore atheists is whether or not religion is useful for society.

The Iglesia Ni Cristo

Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), a heretical Christian church founded in the Philippines in 1914 by Félix Manalo, which translates to "Church of Christ". It is a non-trinitarian denomination with a global following, known for its independent structure, unique worship practices, and large number of congregations in the Philippines and abroad.

Key facts about Iglesia ni Cristo (INC)

Name and translation: The name means "Church of Christ" in the Philippine language of Tagalog.
Founder: It was founded by Félix Manalo and officially registered in 1914.
Beliefs: The INC is a non-trinitarian church, meaning it does not believe that Jesus is God. It teaches that Jesus is God's son, but not God himself.
Global presence: The church has grown significantly since its founding, with thousands of congregations worldwide, including in North America and other parts of the world.
Worship: Worship services are conducted in a question-and-answer format, with answers taken directly from the Bible. The church believes in strict adherence to the Bible, avoiding personal opinions and man-made practices.
Strict Rules: It has been reported that the church imposes strict rules on members, which can include prohibitions against certain activities and mandatory voting for church-endorsed candidates.
Membership: The exact number of members is kept secret, but it is estimated to be between three and ten million worldwide, with a large concentration of members being Filipino.
Administration: The church is led by an executive minister. As of 2009, this position has been held by Eduardo Manalo, the grandson of the founder.

The Christian Community

The Christian Community is an esoterically-oriented heretical Christian denomination established in Germany in 1922 by Lutheran ministers influenced by Anthroposophy. As of 2023, it claims approximately 100,000 members in more than 400 congregations.

The Christian community is weird because they're basically the only high church non-trinitarians. They have priests, seven sacraments, and a formal liturgy, but not the Nicene creed. They care a lot about nature and not raising your kids with electronics.

But what they don't care about is historic Christianity thus defaulting to being described as heretical Christians. They think Jesus was an ordinary man who received the Christ essence at his baptism and that the Trinity didn't always exist.

Christian Science

Christian Science is like a grape nut, which is neither a grape nor a nut because Christian science is neither Christian nor scientific. One of their main ideas is that evil does not exist and that means you shouldn't go to the doctor.

They believe in extreme metaphysical idealism where your mind creates reality. So if you're sick, you just need to think better. They reject the trinity because they don't see God as really personal at all, just kind of a metaphysical principle of reality.

Christian Science is a religious movement founded by Mary Baker Eddy that blends Christian theology with a belief in spiritual healing. It is based on the idea that reality is spiritual and that matter is an illusion, which means that sickness and other problems can be overcome through prayer and spiritual understanding rather than medical intervention. The movement's core texts are the Bible and Eddy's book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

Core Beliefs

Spiritual reality: Christian Scientists believe that God (Spirit) is the only reality and that the material world is an illusion. Sickness, sin, and evil are seen as false beliefs that can be overcome by understanding one's true spiritual nature.
Healing: Jesus's healing works are central to their faith, and they believe that humans can follow his example by overcoming physical limitations through spiritual realization, or "the mind of Christ".
God: They believe in one God, but not in the traditional Trinity. Jesus is seen as the "Way-shower" who demonstrated how to achieve unity with God.
Salvation: Salvation is understood as the process of spiritual regeneration and healing from sin and sickness.

Practices

Prayer: Healing is pursued primarily through prayer and spiritual study. While members are not dictated by the church on healthcare, they generally prefer to rely on Christian Science treatment and often forgo or minimize medical intervention.
Spiritual study: Members study the Bible and Science and Health to gain spiritual understanding and promote healing.
Church services: Services are held in branch churches worldwide and focus on readings from the Bible and Science and Health.

Organization and History

Founder: Baker Eddy founded the Church of Christ, Scientist in 1879 after studying the Bible and Jesus's teachings on healing.
Centralized structure: The movement is organized around The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston,which provides doctrinal guidance to its branch churches.
The Christian Science Monitor: In 1908, Eddy founded the international newspaper, The Christian Science Monitor, which reports on world news from a humane perspective.

World Mission Society Church of God

World Mission Society Church of God, you might recognize them as the people that are always coming to your college campuses to tell you about God the Mother because they think God is this woman in South Korea.

Basically, this guy predicted Jesus would return in 1988. When that didn't happen, he said it was fulfilled spiritually and then he died. But his followers still believed that he was God, the father, son, and spirit. And that his wife, who's still alive, is God the mother.

The World Mission Society Church of God is a heretical Christian non-denominational church founded in South Korea in 1964 by Ahn Sahng-hong. It is a controversial group that teaches a unique doctrine which has led some ex-members and others to label it as a cult. The church's teachings include the belief that women should cover their heads while praying or worshiping, citing 1 Corinthians 11:3-4, and they refer to a female figure as "God the Mother".

Founder: Ahn Sahng-hong
Founded: 1964 in South Korea

Beliefs:

Women should cover their heads when praying or worshiping, as an interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11:3-4.
Members believe in a "God the Mother," or "Mother Jerusalem," who is said to have fulfilled biblical prophecies.
Controversy: The church is considered controversial, with some ex-members and individuals describing it as a cult.

Heretical Christians - Summary

The above list is by no means exhaustive and is meant only to point out the differences between true/historically Christian denominations and some of the examples of what Catholic and other historically Christian churches see as being heretical Christians.

NOTE:

We intend no disrespect to anyone holding beliefs other than our espoused Catholic/Christian credo, only to point out some of those churches which hold beliefs which exclude them from any claims to being historically Christian and viewed/classified as heretical Christians.

We happily welcome all Christian denominations to partake of the Holy Eucharist at any of our masses or non-denominational services and thus we are termed ‘inclusive’ as we do not exclude other Christians from joining fully in our worship and receiving Holy Communion.

So after you look at all these groups, the mainstream Christian denominations seem very similar to each other. They all believe in the trinity. They all believe in the Nicene creed. And they all believe the church has always existed since the time of Christ and didn't need to be restored by some new prophet.

Heretical Christians

Modern Churches Viewed As Heretical Christians

Heretical Christians - Summary

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