Pelagianism
Sign in to savethumb|Artistic portrayal of Pelagius, for whom Pelagianism was named
Article
23 sectionsContents
- Background
- Pelagian controversy
- Pelagius' teachings
- Free will and original sin
- Sin and virtue
- Baptism and judgment
- Comparison
- Definition
- Pelagianism and Augustinianism
- Pelagianism and Judaism
- Later responses
- Semi-Pelagian controversy
- Pelagian manuscripts
- Early modern era
- Contemporary responses
- Scholarly reassessment
- See also
- References
- Notes
- Citations
- Sources
- Further reading
- External links
thumb|Artistic portrayal of Pelagius, for whom Pelagianism was named
Pelagianism is a Christian theological position that holds that the fall did not taint human nature and that humans by divine grace have free will to achieve human perfection. Pelagius (), 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.