The Men of Intelligence were another offshoot of the Free Spirit heresy, but were not related to the Beguines or Beghards. Originating in Brussels around 1300 A.D., it was a woman named Bloemardinne who is credited with the formation of the Men of Intelligence Heresy.
The Men of Intelligence and their Beliefs
The Men of Intelligence were really not all that unique. Their beliefs were just another variation on several heresies which had come before them which made the attempt to justify the destruction of the moral codes of the Holy Roman Church.
Bloemardinne taught that believers could reach such an exalted state of grace that they could be beyond committing sin, and therefore, none of their actions could be regarded as sinful. It was known at the time that the Men of Intelligence engaged in and believed that sexual activity was a "spiritual" state.
They believed this to such a degree that women who refused to participate in the illicit sexual behavior were often profoundly abused by their fellow Men of Intelligence.
Men of Intelligence and Seraphic Love
Bloemardinne called this sexual ecstasy "seraphic love" which was truly a distortion of a term used in legitimate mystical theology regarding certain mystic states. And it would be the use of this term which would eventually condemn them.
They correlated seraphic love with promiscuous sexual love. The word "seraph" refers to an angelic host, and seraphic love refers to the love between God and humankind in the true doctrines of the Catholic Church.
In 1411 A.D., the two surviving leaders of the Men of Intelligence — Giles Cantor and William Hilderniss — were condemned by the Bishop of Cambrai. In his condemnation, he implied that the term "seraphic love" had been used to conceal a sexual relationship between the two men and the original founder, Bloemardinne.
Giles Cantor believed that he’d been instructed in mystical visions that the sacraments of penance, confession and absolution were invalid and useless. He also asserted that clergy had no business interpreting scripture, only those filled with the Holy Spirit such as himself could do so without error.
Bishop Pierre d’Ailly in his condemnation of the Men of Intelligence mentioned that the heretical sect instructed its members to hide the level of promiscuity practiced within their confines, but they considered sexual activity to be equal to prayer.
Heresy According to the Early Church Fathers
Clement of Alexandra among many Early Church Fathers had little respect for the shallow nature of the heresies that arose during his day.
“Therefore, on account of the heresies, the toil of discovery must be undertaken. Yet, we must not at all abandon [the truth]. Suppose that fruit were set before us. Some of it was real and ripe, and some was made of wax” according to (Clement of Alexandria) A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: A Reference Guide to More than 700 Topics Discussed by the Early Church Fathers.
Other heresies of interest in Roman Catholic Church include Manichaeism and Monophysitism.
Sources:
- Encyclopedia of Heresies and Heretics, by Charles S. Clifton.
- A Catholic Dictionary, by William E. Addis and Thomas Arnold, M.A.
- Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, by Dr. Ludwig Ott.
- A Short History of Christian Doctrine: From the First Century to the Present, by Bernhard Lohse.
- The Church in Crisis: A History of the General Councils, 325 - 1870, by Philip Hughes.
- A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: A Reference Guide to More than 700 Topics Discussed by the Early Church Fathers, edited by David W. Bercot.
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