Have you heard of the heresy of Angelism?

Lady Love · #1 Jun 14, '12, 7:32 am

Angelism is a heresy that surfaces in spirituality by one expecting oneself to be more than human. Where you attempt to worship God with the perfection of an angel and not your human love. This type of attitude in your spiritual life will eventually lead to self-hatred, pride, discouragement, despair, and an unnatural way of living. It leads to a "stony" heart and a rigid spirit.

I speak from experience. Angelism in your way of living leads to impossible expectations on yourself and others. It does not draw you or anyone else to deeper intimacy of God or create unity. This heresy of Angelism is probably the number one reason I was not successful in the religious life. Unfortunately my novice mistress did not pick up on it...it was her first year as a novice mistress.

Can you see where this may be cropping up in your spirituality? Have you had experience with this? I would love some feed back.

losh14 · #2 Jun 14, '12, 8:41 am

I personally have not heard of this, but it would strike me as a deficit of humility and a lack of Awe before God. If one begins prayer on one's knees, or at least with the knees of one's heart bent (I often pray while walking), then one begins in proper relationship as creature to Creator, as sinner to Savior.

Let me offer a prayer that is a favorite of mine to help deal with this "stony heart":

Come Holy Spirit, and fall fresh upon me
Fill the empty places in my heart with Your Love
Smash the stones set upon me by sin
Render them to fertile ground that You may take root in me
Blossom in me, Lord, and let me be fragrant offering to you
Beneath your wings may I find security
Beneath your shadow may I know comfort
Draw me always near to you, Most Holy Spirit,
and let me serve You with the Father and the Son, One God, forever and ever, Amen.

Nimzovik · #3 Jun 14, '12, 9:09 am

No. I have heard of the heresy of Anglicanism tho-

**GEddie** · #4 Jun 14, '12, 10:51 am

I had thought that angelism had to do with a desire to be pure spirit, and by implication, a rejection of one's humanness, since a human being is by definition a life-filled human body.

You see the desire to be pure spirit in Platonism and in a lot, maybe the majority, of Christianity. But it rejects the will of God, since we were made human and body/soul were made to be inseparable; and it implicitly rejects our LORD, who became and remained a human being.

ICXC NIKA

sllhouette · #5 Jun 14, '12, 11:29 am

I have heard of it. I think it is quite common really.

I sure hope there is no element of Angelism, or it's counter animalism, in my spirituality, but I have at times worried that a friend or two might be affected.

A more accurate definition I think would be that angelism is the rejection of the body for the sake of the spirit. Animalism is the rejection of the spirit for the sake of the body. We all know the horrors of animalism. I would argue that angelism can be just as bad. The Holy place to be in is to recognize the goodness of Both the spirit AND the body.

I would point you toward reading more from the Theology of the Body. Especially if you still have some desire toward religious life.

Lady Love · #6 Jun 14, '12, 3:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by sllhouette

I would point you toward reading more from the Theology of the Body. Especially if you still have some desire toward religious life.

Thanks. I am very familiar with the Theology of the Body...I'm a huge fan. I was in the convent 15 years ago. That was not a recent struggle.

Gosh! I think I fell unwittingly into every heresy at some point or other. But the great thing is...I know how to resolve the issues.

I always said, "The best hairdresser is the one who makes the most mistakes cause they know how to fix them." The same goes for the spiritual path.