Circumcellions
(Latin: circum, around; cella, cell) Schismatics who probably began before the death of Constantine, joined the Donatists, and lived as brigands throughout Africa. They had no occupation but spent their time playing, drinking, and performing acts of violence. Frequently they sought their own death, considering suicide as martyrdom. New Catholic Dictionary
Cathari
(Greek: katharos, pure) A name specifically applied to, or used by, several sects at various periods; the Novatians and the Manichaeans were frequently known as Cathari, but in its more usual sense Cathari was a general designation for the dualistic sects of the later Middle Ages. In spite of several radical differences, there is a tendency […]
Gnosticism
(Greek: gnosis, knowledge) Salvation by knowledge. Gnostics were people who claimed to know mysteries of the universe; various pantheistic sects, antedating the Christian era and lasting to the 5th century and borrowing the formulas of various religious, particularly of Christianity, to express their view of matter as inimical to spirit, and of the universe as a […]
Circumcellions
(Latin: circum, around; cella, cell) Schismatics who probably began before the death of Constantine, joined the Donatists, and lived as brigands throughout Africa. They had no occupation but spent their time playing, drinking, and performing acts of violence. Frequently they sought their own death, considering suicide as martyrdom. New Catholic Dictionary
Arianism
The heresy propagated by Arius denying the Divinity of Jesus Christ. Following views which Gnostics had popularized, he regarded the Son of God as standing midway between God and creatures; not like God without a beginning, but possessing all other Divine perfections, not of one essence, nature, substance with the Father and therefore not like […]
Apollinarianism
A heresy begun by Apollinaris the Younger, Bishop of Laodicea, c. 376, teaching that Christ had a human sensitive soul, but had no human rational mind, the place of which was taken by Divine Logos. It was condemned by Roman Councils, 377 and 381, and the Council of Constantinople, 381. The sect perished about 416, some […]
Antitrinitarians
Those who deny the Trinity of Persons in the Godhead; in early days, the Sabellians, Macedonians, and Arians; in later times Protestant bodies such as the Socinians and Unitarians. New Catholic Dictionary
Antinomy
(Greek: anti, against; nomos, law) A term made familiar by the heresy of Antinomianism preached by Johannes Agricola as a deduction of Luther’s teaching on justification by faith alone. If good works, argued Agricola, do not help to salvation so evil ones do not hinder it and therefore justified Christians are not bound to observe the law. The deduction […]
Antidicomarianites
(Greek: antidikos, opponents; Mariam, Mary) Name given by Epiphanius, about the end of the 4th century, to adversaries of the Divine maternity and of the perpetual virginity of Mary. New Catholic Dictionary
Adoptionism
A heresy originating in the 8th century claiming that Christ as Man was only the adoptive. Son of God. It was advocated by Elipandus of Toledo and Felix of Urgel, but condemned by Pope Adrian I in 785 and 794. Abelard renewed this teaching in the 12th century, and his neo-Adoptionism was condemned by Pope Alexander III […]