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When discussing theology, I've come to realize that not only is personal study of doctrine a necessary component to faith, but it is something that shouldn't be kept to oneself. I want to share my journey, both past and ongoing, into the realm of theology. Through this, I hope that you will gain insight into the Christian faith as a whole. Before reading anything else, I suggest you read the introduction and definitions (found in the pages tabs above) so you may better understand where I am coming from in everything I write. Because many of my posts are on heresies, there is also a page above with a family tree of heresies and links to all the posts I have so far on the topic.

29 January, 2013

Heresy of the Week: Socinianism

Since we decided in Bible Study a few weeks ago that the opposite of Atheism is Unitarianism ("I believe in nothing" vs. "I believe in everything (except Orthodox Christian teachings)" -- and yes, I know that is a drastic oversimplification), I was reminded of this week's heresy.
Socinianism is a 15th century protestant antitrinitarian heresy that has been embraced by the followers of Unitarianism. Socinianism rejects orthodox teachings of God’s knowledge, the Trinity, the divinity of Christ (elements of Arianism, Ebionitism and Psilanthropism) and salvation. Christ was believed to have not existed before the virginal birth of Jesus (moderated Adoptionism); some Socinianites believed that Joseph was the father of Jesus and rejected the virginal birth. They reject the doctrine of original sin and teach that humans were created mortal and would have died naturally whether or not Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Good and Evil. Because there is no original sin, they do not believe in the need for atonement. They teach that God’s omniscience is limited to necessary truths (what will definitely happen in the future) and not to contingent truth (what only might happen in the future); they felt if God knew everything that would happen, free will could not exist.

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