Pelagianism (Noun)
Meaning
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.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The early Christian church struggled to combat the spread of Pelagianism, which emphasized human free will over divine intervention.
- Pelagianism was widely regarded as a threat to the established dogma of original sin, and its proponents were eventually excommunicated.
- In an attempt to refute Pelagianism, Augustine of Hippo penned several influential treatises on the nature of sin and redemption.
- As the popularity of Pelagianism grew, so did the opposition from the ecclesiastical authorities, who saw it as a challenge to their authority.
- The Council of Ephesus formally condemned Pelagianism in 431, effectively eradicating its influence from mainstream Christian theology.