PELAGIUS v AUGUSTINE

Joseph Sheehy

(A Summary)

Pelagius (circa 335 - circa 425 CE) was a Celtic monk and a contemporary of Augustine, Jerome and Patrick. All three recognised him as Public Enemy No. 1 because of his resolute opposition to the Rome-centred, guilt-laden Christianity which they were pushing along with the Pope of the day, Celsetine 1. 

St. Augustine recognised that Pelagius was a saintly man (vir sanctus); but Jerome (who indulged in the character assassination of anyone daring to disagree with him) dismissed him as a "Scot" (ie: an Irish man) "stuffed with Scottish porridge" - not even a Brit, but one of those Barbarians living beyond the pale of civilisation. 

In fact Pelagius was known as Pelagius Brito/Britannicus. Pelagius was probable born in Britain and all the natives of Britain were at that time Celts.

This highly educated monk, fluent in Latin and Greek, travelled widely on the Continent and was well read in theology. He came to Rome as a man of principles and high ideals and was appalled at the decadence of the Roman clergy and people, which he put down to Augustine's fatalistic theology that we are riddled with sin and incapable of doing anything about it with the Grace of God.  For Pelagius this relieved people of any real sense of responsibility for themselves. He spent ten or eleven years in the city, preaching a Gospel of Empowerment based on the Celtic theology of creation as "Original Blessedness" rather than "Original Sin"; and was there for the fall of the city to the "barbarian" Goths in 410 CE.

ROMANO-BRITON CHRISTIANITY:

We get some idea of the Christianity practised among the Romano-Britons from the 4th century Roman villa at Lullingstone, Kent. It was:

1. Centred on the home, there being no public places of worship except for the official temple cults.

2. Centred on the Agape-Eucharist - at that time a flexible liturgy led by the man/woman of the house. (Jesus original stress on the equality between men and women did not survive exposure to Roman society, though it did to a greater extent in Celtic culture).

3. Great stress was laid on ethical/moral living and care of others - slaves were treated as "extended family".

4. Centred on Jesus as personal Soter/Saviour.

5. Keeping a low profile in society as regards one's religious beliefs: the use of coded signs such as the Chi-Rho, fish  (ICHTHUS) and kiss of peace. See symbols at bottom of the page.

CONSTANTINE:

in 313 CE the Emperor Constantine decided, for political reasons, to embrace the Christian faith. In time the domestic church lost its original hearth and worship began to be conducted in public temples and churches. The male/female heads of households were replaced by an officially ordained MALE ONLY priesthood - but married priests.

Pelagius continued to get into trouble by daring to question Augustinian theology and eventually went in 412 CE to Palestine under the patronage of Bishop John of Jerusalem and others. Eventually he was put on trial in several courts and at the Council of Carthage in May 418 CE Pelagius was found guilty of heresy. Pelagius headed east and died some years later. He works have survived only in the criticisms of his enemies. Those who came after him, including St. Patrick tried to snuff out his thoughts, work and memory - but not with total success. 

ICHTHUS:

I = Jesus. CH = Cristos. TH = Theon (of God). U = Uios (Son). S = Soter (Saviour)