Pelagianism for Dummies
noun
What does Pelagianism really mean?
Pelagianism is a word that might seem a bit daunting at first, but don't worry, I'm here to help make it easier for you to understand. Let's break it down step by step.
First, let's start with the word itself. Pelagianism comes from the name Pelagius, who was a British monk and theologian back in the 4th and 5th centuries. Now, theology is the study of religious beliefs and practices, so when we talk about Pelagianism, we're talking about a specific set of beliefs about how people can lead a good life.
Basically, Pelagianism is the belief that humans have the ability to make good choices and live a moral life all on their own, without needing any help from a higher power. Pelagians believe that we have free will, which means we can choose to do good things or bad things, and that our choices determine whether we're good or bad people.
Now, I know this might sound a bit confusing, so let's try to bring it closer to something you might have experienced. Imagine you're playing a video game, and in that game, you have the freedom to choose what your character does. You can make your character help others, complete quests, and make good choices, or you can make your character be mean, steal, and make bad choices. The idea behind Pelagianism is similar - it's like saying that in real life, we have the power to decide whether we want to be good or bad, just like in a video game.
However, not everyone agrees with this idea. Some people believe that we need help from a higher power, like a god or a divine being, to be able to make good choices and live a moral life. They think that humans are inherently flawed and need guidance to do what's right. This is called Augustinianism, named after another theologian called Augustine, who had different beliefs than Pelagius.
So, to sum it up, Pelagianism is the belief that humans can make good choices and live a moral life all on their own, without needing help from a higher power. It's like saying that we have the power and free will to be good or bad, just like in a video game. But remember, not everyone agrees with this, and there are different beliefs out there, like Augustine's idea that we need guidance from a higher power.
I hope this explanation helps you understand what Pelagianism means. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!
Revised and Fact checked by Sarah Anderson on 2023-10-29 19:25:06
Pelagianism In a sentece
Learn how to use Pelagianism inside a sentece
- Pelagianism is the belief that people can be completely good by their own efforts without needing any help from a higher power or grace.
- If someone thinks that they can earn their way into heaven without any assistance, that is an example of Pelagianism.
- Imagine a student who believes that studying alone, without any guidance or support, will guarantee them top grades. That is similar to Pelagianism.
- Suppose someone believes that they can become a great football player just by practicing alone and without any coaching. This mindset is similar to Pelagianism.
- If a person thinks that they can achieve success in life solely based on their own abilities and without any help from others, that is an example of Pelagianism.
Pelagianism Hypernyms
Words that are more generic than the original word.