16 Facts About Pelagianism

Pelagianism is a Christian theological position that holds that the original sin did not taint human nature and that humans by divine grace have free will to achieve human perfection.

Pelagianism taught that it was unjust to punish one person for the sins of another; therefore, infants are born blameless.

For centuries afterward, "Pelagianism" was used in various forms as a pejorative accusation of heresy for Christians who hold unorthodox beliefs, but it has undergone reassessment by recent scholarship.

Pelagianism opposed Manicheanism because of its fatalism and determinism and argued for the possibility of a sinless life.

Jerome attacked Pelagianism for saying that humans had the potential to be sinless, and connected it with other recognized heresies, including Origenism, Jovinianism, Manichaeanism, and Priscillianism.

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Pelagianism was later condemned at the Council of Carthage in 418, after which Zosimus issued the excommunicating both Pelagius and Caelestius.

Concern that Pelagianism undermined the role of the clergy and episcopacy was specifically cited in the judgement.

Pelagianism was reported to be popular in Britain, as Germanus of Auxerre made at least one visit to denounce the heresy.

Pelagianism argued that many young Christians were comforted with false security about their salvation leading them to relax their Christian practice.

Pelagianism believed that teaching a strong position on free will was the best motivation for individuals to reform their conduct.

Pelagianism explicitly called on wealthy Christians to share their fortunes with the poor.

Pelagianism did not accept purgatory as a possible destination for adults.

Pelagianism argued that no suffering was truly undeserved, and that grace was equally undeserved but bestowed by God's benevolence.

Pelagianism did not accept that original sin corrupted human nature, and argued that man could live a Christian life and be entitled to justification.

Pelagianism rarely mentioned Pelagius explicitly even though he inclined towards a Pelagian viewpoint.

Pelagianism's fault was in exaggerated emphasis, but in the final form his philosophy took, after necessary and proper modifications as a result of criticism, it is not certain that any statement of his is totally irreconcilable with the Christian faith or indefensible in terms of the New Testament.