Heterodoxy

Heterodoxy in a religious sense means "any opinions or doctrines at variance with an official or orthodox position". Under this definition, heterodoxy is similar to unorthodoxy, while the adjective "heterodox" could be applied to a dissident.

Heterodoxy is also an ecclesiastical term of art, defined in various ways by different religions and churches. For example, in the Apostolic Churches (the Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of the East, and the Non-Chalcedonian or Oriental Churches), heterodoxy may describe beliefs that differ from strictly orthodox views, but that fall short either of formal or of material heresy.

Ecclesiastic usage

Eastern Orthodoxy

In the Orthodox Church, the term is used primarily in reference to Christian churches and denominations not belonging to the Communion of Eastern Orthodox Churches and espousing doctrines contrary to the received Holy Tradition. Also, it describes any theological position, moral principle, spiritual practice, or lifestyle thought to be inconsistent with the Orthodox Catholic Rule of Faith. In general, this term is used in two distinct senses:

Heterodoxy (group)

Heterodoxy was the name adopted by a feminist debating group in Greenwich Village in the early 20th century. It was notable for providing a forum for the development of more radical conceptions of feminism than the suffrage and women's club movements of the time.

Heterodoxy was founded in 1912 by Marie Jenney Howe, who specified only one requirement for membership: that the applicant "not be orthodox in her opinion". The luncheon club, which started with 25 members, met every two weeks on Saturdays. The club was disestablished in the 1940s. Group members referred to themselves as "Heterodites".

The club's members had diverse political views. The membership also included bisexual and lesbian women, in addition to heterosexuals.

The group was considered important in the origins of American feminism. Among the notable members were Susan Glaspell, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Ida Rauh.

Heterodites Alice Kimball, Alison Turnbull Hopkins, Doris Stevens, and Paula Jakobi were arrested in 1917 and 1918 suffrage protests, and served time in the Occoquan Workhouse, jail, or prison psychiatric wards.

David Horowitz Freedom Center

The David Horowitz Freedom Center, formerly the Center for the Study of Popular Culture (CSPC), is a conservative foundation founded in 1988 by political activist David Horowitz and his long-time collaborator Peter Collier. It was established with funding from groups including the Olin Foundation, the Bradley Foundation and the Sarah Scaife Foundation. It runs several websites and blogs, including FrontPage Magazine, Students for Academic Freedom and Jihad Watch.

Change of name

In July 2006 the center changed its name from the Center for the Study of Popular Culture (CSPC), giving the following explanation:

Purpose and scope

The original intention of the CSPC was to establish a foothold in Hollywood, California. It serves as a platform for conservative speakers and debates between conservative and liberal speakers.

In 2003 Horowitz expanded the scope of the CSPC to include monitoring what CSPC views as an ingrained hostility towards conservative scholarship and ideas within academia. He established Students for Academic Freedom to further that goal.