The Modern Pelagian

Now I will admit that I have heard of Pelagian and anti-Pelagian points of view but never really knew exactly what that meant. I looked it up the other day and found out what it really means at least in part (more later).

Here's my rash over-generalization: The Red-Staters are anti-Pelagian and the Blue-Staters are Pelagian. Now in truth, I know I am stretching this a little in directly associating those secular believers in the Goodness of man, and calling them Pelagian, but the general idea still fits. If you think man is basically good, lots of the left wing, blue stater ideologies make sense, especially if you note that left wingers more often think that government (made up of good men) is a good thing.

And if you don't think men (or government) is good, you tend to be more conservative.

From "Wikipedia"

Pelagianism is a belief that original sin did not taint human nature (which, being created from God, was divine), and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil with no Divine aid whatesoever. Thus, Adam's sin was "to set a bad example" for his progeny, but his actions did not have the other consequences imputed to Original Sin. Pelagianism views the role of Jesus Christ as "setting a good example" for the rest of us (thus counteracting Adam's bad example). In short, humanity has full control, and thus full responsibility, for its own salvation in addition to full responsibility for every sin (the latter insisted upon by both proponents and opponents of Pelagianism).is a belief that original sin did not taint human nature (which, being created from God, was divine), and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil with no Divine aid whatesoever. Thus, Adam's sin was "to set a bad example" for his progeny, but his actions did not have the other consequences imputed to Original Sin. Pelagianism views the role of Jesus Christ as "setting a good example" for the rest of us (thus counteracting Adam's bad example). In short, humanity has full control, and thus full responsibility, for its own salvation in addition to full responsibility for every sin (the latter insisted upon by both proponents and opponents of Pelagianism).

Lets examine this idea in the light of the "hot-button" few issues that light the fire between the two camps these days:

• Homosexuality and SSM. The "Pelagian" stance is that men are created good. Homsexuality is genetic. Therefore homosexuality is good. Anti-"Pelagian" stance is men are sinners and homosexuality is just another sin which tempts some men (and women) more than others.
  
• Abortion. My argument here is perhaps weaker. But the "Pelagian" argument hinges on human choice being fundamentally good whereas the anti-"Pelagian" tact would be that God's choice is what we should seek.
  

One thing this leads one back to is Augustine. Augustine fought against the Manichees and the Pelagians (among other heresies) in his time. Pelagian and Manichean thought (or parallels) can be drawn with much of modern liberal secular thought (and with respect to the Pelagian heresy with liberal non-secular thought). Augustine is certainly coming to have more relevance than I would have suspected.