What does pelagianism mean?

Definitions for pelagianism
pela·gian·ism

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word pelagianism.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. Pelagianismnoun

    the theological doctrine put forward by Pelagius which denied original sin and affirmed the ability of humans to be righteous; condemned as heresy by the Council of Ephesus in 431

Wiktionary

  1. pelagianismnoun

    A Christian belief that denies the view of original sin and the necessity of grace, asserting that man is capable of achieving salvation by his own efforts.

  2. Etymology: From the name of its founder, Pelagius:

Wikipedia

  1. 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. Pelagius (c. 355 – c. 420 AD), an ascetic and philosopher from the British Isles, taught that God could not command believers to do the impossible, and therefore it must be possible to satisfy all divine commandments. He also taught that it was unjust to punish one person for the sins of another; therefore, infants are born blameless. Pelagius accepted no excuse for sinful behaviour and taught that all Christians, regardless of their station in life, should live unimpeachable, sinless lives. To a large degree, "Pelagianism" was defined by its opponent Augustine, and exact definitions remain elusive. Although Pelagianism had considerable support in the contemporary Christian world, especially among the Roman elite and monks, it was attacked by Augustine and his supporters, who had opposing views on grace, predestination and free will. Augustine proved victorious in the Pelagian controversy; Pelagianism was decisively condemned at the 418 Council of Carthage and is still regarded as heretical by the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. 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.

ChatGPT

  1. pelagianism

    Pelagianism is a theological doctrine attributed to the British monk, Pelagius, who lived in the 5th century AD. This doctrine argues that humans are born without original sin, denying the concept of inherited sinfulness. According to Pelagianism, human beings have the ability to freely choose good or evil without divine aid, thereby rejecting the idea that divine grace is necessary for salvation. It implies that humans can live a sinless life and attain heaven through their own efforts. It was declared heretical by the Catholic Church.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Pelagianismnoun

    the doctrines of Pelagius

  2. Etymology: [Cf. F. plagianisme.]

Wikidata

  1. Pelagianism

    Pelagianism is the belief that original sin did not taint human nature and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without special Divine aid. This is still sometimes called Limited Depravity. Thus, Adam's sin was "to set a bad example" for his progeny, but his actions did not have the other consequences imputed to original sin. Pelagianism views the role of Jesus as "setting a good example" for the rest of humanity as well as providing an atonement for our sins. In short, humanity has full control, and thus full responsibility, for obeying the Gospel in addition to full responsibility for every sin. According to Pelagian doctrine, because humans are sinners by choice, they are therefore criminals who need the atonement of Jesus Christ. Sinners are not victims, they are criminals who need pardon. This theological theory is named after Pelagius, although he denied, at least at some point in his life, many of the doctrines associated with his name. Pelagianism stands in contrast to two other prominent theological theories: Semipelagianism and Total Depravity.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of pelagianism in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of pelagianism in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

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"pelagianism." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/pelagianism>.

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