Position · 411

Pelagianism

The view that humans can choose good and obey God by their own natural powers: Adam’s sin set a bad example but did not damage human nature, so grace helps but is not strictly necessary.

Pelagius was opposed by Augustine, whose replies shaped Western teaching on original sin and grace. The Council of Carthage condemned Pelagianism in 418, and the Council of Ephesus repeated the condemnation in 431. No major tradition holds it, but it is still used as a boundary marker: Protestants have accused Catholics of “semi-Pelagianism”, and Calvinists have said the same of Arminians.