QUOTES FROM PELAGIUS:
THE COMMAND TO LOVE:
(Letter to a Young Friend)
"The law of God, which Christ preached, is summarized in the command to love.....Imagine the world if everyone lived according to this rule. There would be no rich or poor, but all would be equal in wealth. There would be no wars....There would be no fear; instead each person would regard all his neighbours as friends. God's kingdom would have come to earth, as it is in heaven".
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ANIMALS:
(Letter to an Elderly Friend)
"Look at the animals roaming the forest: God's Spirit dwells within them.
Look at the birds flying across the sky: God's Spirit dwells within them.
Look at the tiny insects crawling in the grass: God's Spirit dwells within them.
Look at the fish in the river and the sea: God's Spirit dwells within them.
There is no creature on earth in whom God is absent.....
God's Spirit is within all plants as well.
The presence of God's Spirit in all living things is what makes them beautiful.
And if we look with God's eyes,
Nothing on earth is ugly".
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SCRIPTURE, DOGMA AND DOUBTS:
(Letter to a New Christian)
"Doubts are the foundation stones for a firm and robust faith. You will realise that doctrines are inventions of the human mind, as it tries to penetrate the mystery of God. You will realise that Scripture itself is the work of human minds....It is not what you believe that matters; it is how you respond with your heart and your actions. It is not just believing in Christ that matters; it is becoming like him....Jesus did not ask people to accept high-flown doctrines. In fact, he did not ask them to believe anything. Instead, he asked them to enter a relationship with God....Do not let your mind be seduced by theological speculation....simply follow Jesus wherever he leads."
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ON ADAM AND EVE:
(Letter to Demetrias)
"When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge, they were exercising their freedom of choice....Before eating the fruit, they did not know the difference between good and evil; thus they did not possess the knowledge which enables human beings to exercise freedom of choice. By eating the fruit, they acquired this knowledge; and from that moment onwards they were free. Thus the story of their banishment from Eden is in truth the story of how the human race gained its freedom...Adam and Eve became mature human beings, responsible to God for their actions....by defying God, Adam and Eve grew to maturity in his image".
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ON OUR NATURAL CAPACITY TO DO GOOD:
(Letter to Demetrias)
"Whenever I give moral instruction, I first try to demonstrate the inherent power and quality of human nature... the wonderful virtues which all human beings can acquire... God has implanted in every person the capacity to attain the very highest level of virtue. But people cannot grow in virtue on their own. We need (soul) companions to guide and direct us on the way of righteousness ... We are each capable of achieving the same degree of moral goodness... in the fullness of time (we) can share the moral virtues of Christ himself".
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