Abstract

The declaration of apartheid as a heresy has given rise to lively debate even among those who condemn apartheid on political and moral grounds. Some of the major objections to the heresy declaration are examined and the conclusion is reached that the charge is cogent, valid, and helpful to the church in South Africa. In order to establish this point, careful analyses are made of apartheid and of heresy and a proposal is made for a new understanding of heresy in the context of recent developments in theology, ecclesiology and ethics.