The Cruelty of Heresy
117. C. FitzSimons Allison, The Cruelty of Heresy: An Affirmation of Christian Orthodoxy
This slim work by an Anglican (or possibly Episcopalian?) bishop discusses the heresies of early Christianity and the four great ecumenical councils from Nicaea (A.D. 325) to Chalcedon (A.D. 451). Allison views the conclusions of these four councils as Christian orthodoxy, and he defends it against the various heresies that have arisen both in the early Church and in the modern world. He divides the major historical heresies into two basic groups, those that deny Jesus’ divinity and those that deny His humanity, and explains why each group denies essential facts about human (as well as divine) nature.
For anyone who knows a little bit about early Christianity and who wants to learn more, I think this book would be a very good resource. Allison presents the four ecumenical councils in their historical and theological context, and he explains the major heresies in an accessible way. However, it’s definitely not a work for a serious scholar, either of history or theology; there are no endnotes except for direct quotations, and I was left thinking “Hmm…” in a few places. I also don’t think the title of the book is entirely accurate. Although Allison attempts to show how each of the heresies does a disservice to humanity, he doesn’t always make the connection clearly enough. Overall, I think this is a good book if you want a little more information about early Christianity, but it’s not an in-depth or scholarly work.