Did The Catholic Church Commit Heresy?
What a Painting in a German Church Reveals About Authority, Tradition, and the Limits of Infallibility
While visiting a Protestant evangelical church in Germany, I came across something that stopped me in my tracks: a painting of the Assumption of Mary. In a church that does not affirm the doctrine.
That single discovery opened up a conversation I think every Christian needs to hear.
In my latest video I explore why this matters, tracing the history of the Assumption, the 1950 declaration of papal infallibility, and the tension between Scripture and tradition that has defined the Catholic and Protestant divide for centuries.
The questions raised are not easy ones, and I do not pretend they are.
If you care about theology, church history, or simply want to understand one of the most important structural disagreements in Christianity, this video is worth your time.
I would love for you to watch it and bring your thoughts to the comments on YouTube:
Hey Spencer, since the comment section on Youtube doesn't seem to properly work, I am going to post my response here.
You wrote: "I don’t really see Jungian analysis as being on the same level as Christianity when it comes to understanding it anymore. I think Jungian psychology has its insights, but it also has clear limitations. That said, I wouldn’t consider it outdated. The tendency to dismiss it often seems more connected to modern attitudes and the pull of our passions than to any real intellectual failure on its part.
At the same time, I believe Christianity contains fundamental truths that remain admirable and objectively beneficial for society.
By the way, what area of Germany are you in? I’ve noticed that many of the cathedrals here carry a very heavy, almost solemn atmosphere. To me, it seems to reflect both the character of the German people and the seriousness with which the faith has historically been approached."
I would say this: I live in Düsseldorf, which is close to Cologne and I have been quite a few times to the big cathedral there. I really do admire the Gothic architecture and the otherworldly feel you have when you inside the cathedral. And yes, this strange feeling you get inside the cathedral could very well have something to do with the Germanic culture in general and the consciousness of the people who have built it.
However, there are also people who would say that there is perhaps something more sinister at play here which could explain this heavy vibe you feel there. Are you familiar with Bernhard Guether? He is a German himself and a very respected figure in the truth movement. He is more of an esoteric Christian and wrote an interesting article on Christianity and he also mentions this weird feeling you get inside of many of these old churches, cathedrals, etc. He is also quite active here on substack.
https://veilofreality.com/2024/03/31/a-new-world-wants-to-be-born-the-end-of-religion/
I don’t necessarily agree with everything that he says but it is worth reading.
Regarding your statement where you addressed my question whether you are a jungian Christian: I think that one of the pitfalls of Jungianism could be that it very quickly can become very theoretical, abstract and head-centric. Religion on the other hand, provides rituals, community and places of worship which can lead to a more whole experience. But then, Jung himself would sometimes encourage his clients to return to their faith (He had a lot of respect for Catholicism) if necessary. So yeah, very nuanced…