Arminianism Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Methodists=== In the [[Methodism|Methodist]]-Calvinist controversy of the early 1770s involving [[Anglican]] ministers [[John Wesley]] and [[George Whitefield]], Wesley responded to accusations of [[semi-Pelagianism]] by embracing an Arminian identity.{{sfn|Gunter|2007|p=78}} Wesley had limited familiarity with the beliefs of [[Jacobus Arminius|Arminius]] and largely formulated his views without direct reliance on Arminius' teachings.{{sfn|Gunter|2007|pp=66-68}} Wesley was notably influenced by 17th-century [[Arminianism in the Church of England|English Arminianism]] and by some Remonstrant spokesmen.{{sfn|Keefer|1987|p=89|ps=. "What Wesley knew of Arminius came to him through two basic sources. First, he knew something of Arminius through Remonstrant spokesmen. [...] Wesley's second source of Arminian theology was the English Church in general, particularly the writers of the seventeenth century. This was by far his predominant source [...]."}} However, he is recognized as a faithful representative of Arminius' beliefs.{{sfn|Gunter|2007|p=82}} Wesley defended his [[soteriology]] through the publication of a periodical titled ''[[Wesleyan Methodist Magazine|The Arminian]]'' (1778) and in articles such as ''Predestination Calmly Considered''.{{sfn|Gunter|2007|p=77}} To support his stance, he strongly maintained belief in [[total depravity]] while clarifying other doctrines notably [[prevenient grace]].{{sfn|Gunter|2007|p=81}}{{sfn|Grider|1982|p=55}} At the same time, Wesley attacked the [[determinism]] that he claimed characterized Calvinist doctrines of predestination.{{sfn|Grider|1982|pp=55-56}} He typically preached the notion of [[Christian perfection]] (fully mature, not "sinlessness").{{sfn|Heron|1999|p=128}} His system of thought has become known as [[#Wesleyan Arminianism|Wesleyan Arminianism]], the foundations of which were laid by him and his fellow preacher [[John William Fletcher]].{{sfn|Knight|2018|p=115}}{{sfn|Grider|1982|p=56}} Methodism also navigated its own theological intricacies concerning salvation and human agency.{{sfn|Grider|1982|pp=53-55}}{{sfn|Bounds|2011|p=50|loc={{zwnj}}}} In the 1830s, during the [[Second Great Awakening]], traces of [[Pelagianism|Pelagian]] influence surfaced in the [[American Holiness Movement]]. Consequently, critics of [[Wesleyan theology]] have occasionally unfairly perceived or labeled its broader thought.{{sfn|Bounds|2011|p=50|ps=. "The American Holiness movement, influenced heavily by the revivalism of Charles Finney, inculcated some of his Soft Semi-Pelagian tendencies among their preachers and teachers [...] This has provided critics of Wesleyan theology with fodder by which they pigeonhole inaccurately larger Wesleyan thought."}} However, its core is recognized to be Arminianism.{{sfn|Grider|1982|p=55}}{{sfn|Bounds|2011|p=50|loc={{zwnj}}}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page