Christian Heresies

Title: Donatism

Originator: Donatus

Named for its leader, the theologian Donatus the Great (d. 355), Donatism included a group of extremist sects, mostly in North Africa, that emphasized asceticism. They valued martyrdom, found lapses of faith (even under torture or threat of death) inexcusable, and believed that the sacraments required a pure priest to be effective.

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Title: Pelagianism

Originator: Pelagius

A number of sects, centered in Gaul, Britain, and Ireland, were associated with the Irish monk Pelagius (fl. 410). He believed that original sin was not transmitted from Adam and Eve to their children (and thereby to us). Baptism was not considered necessary, and people could be "saved" by their own efforts, that is, they did not necessarily require the grace of God. Many modern liberal Christians agree with Pelagius.

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Title: Nestorianism

Originator: Nestorius

Some believe that Nestorius, Patriarch of Antioch (c. 410), believed that Jesus Christ had two natures -- man and God , and that these remained separate throughout his time on earth. Although this is not actually what Nestor said, the designation stuck. Today there are still Nestorian churches in Iran.

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Opinions

A variety of theological viewpoints were in existence within the very early Christian Church. As the community bishops came together in councils, and particularly after the Roman government embraced Christianity and involved itself in religious disputes, orthodoxy was established for the church. This allowed for the winnowing out of a number of heresies that had become established in late antiquity.

Here is presented a list of heresies with which the early church had to deal.