Heresy. Frank P. Spinella

they are lured away from using their own God-given reason, distracted by flourishes of symbolism and allegory, by pious-sounding references to mystical concepts! It is no wonder that Marcion, Valentinus, Basilides, Manichæus, Sabellius and many others have found them to be such easy prey for all manner of heresies; for their rationality has been dulled by their own church! The result is plain: we see everywhere dissensions, schisms, factions, utter lack of consensus on doctrinal matters. From the beginning the holy church has been persecuted from without; but she persecutes herself from within!