Amidst Christianity, there are an almost countless amount of schools of thought. Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist, et cetera, et cetera. Denominations, however, are not the only division of thought within the Religion. There are, in addition to denominations, schools of thought as it pertains to salvation.
As Christians, we should welcome this form of division because it doesn't sever unity. Instead, it allows us to discuss important matters and grow as individuals. Just as sword sharpens sword, man sharpens man.
To those of you reading this who are more secular, don't feel alienated because your perspective on matters is also taken into account.
This article, unlike many of my others, is not an attempt to prove a point about anything. I find it frustrating how little attention is given to this important subject and simply wish to present the information to you, where it can thereafter be discussed. I encourage you to do your own research and don't rush into judgment. It is, in fact, possible to believe in two viewpoints on this list simultaneously. In fact, some are just more drastic forms of another.
The views will be arranged in a particular order that makes sense in my own mind (authoritarian to libertarian religious views.) I am thinking about developing a religious chart mirroring that of the political one developed by David Nolan, which was the inspiration for me writing this. But for right now, I'll just give a brief description (I obviously won't go into every detail of every viewpoint, weighing in the merits and flaws I perceive or the history or any of that; this will be a very general list) of each platform and open for discourse.
Dystheist
Believes in God. Sees him as inherently hostile to humankind.
Epicureanism
Believes in God. Does not believe in an afterlife.
Note: I'm using this term loosely. There was no existing term that I'm aware of that fits this perspective, so I'm applying the namesake of Epicurus, who believed in the existence of a higher power, but rejected the notion of an afterlife.
Calvinism
Believes in God. Believes in limited atonement and predestined salvation.
Click here to read the Five Points Of Calvinism.
Thomism
Believes in God. Believes salvation is predestined, but differs from Calvinism in that they believe that God predestines based on foresight of our future actions.
Molinist
Believes in God. Believes that salvation is predicated on free will, but believes that God sees all possible options and all of our choices with every circumstance placed in front of us. Using this knowledge, He bases salvation on the events that lead to the highest rate of salvation.
Classical Arminianism
Believes in God. Believes salvation is reached through free will with synergy from start to finish with God. Differences from Wesleyan Arminianism can be read here.
Click here to read more.
Wesleyan Arminianism
Believes in God. Believes salvation is reached through free will with synergy from start to finish with God. Differences from Wesleyan Arminianism can be read here.
Semipelagianism
Believes in God. Believes salvation is initiated by man's free will and thereafter, is guided by God.
Pelagianism
Believes in God. Believes man achieves salvation by his own means.
Apocatastasis
Believes in God. Believes all men are saved.
Deism
Believes in God. But rejects the notion that God intervenes in human affairs or suspends the natural laws of the universe.
Agnosticism
Maintains that the existence of God and an afterlife cannot be known.
Atheism
Believes that God does not exist and as a byproduct, neither does an afterlife.
Solipsism
Believes that only the self exists.
Nihilism
Believes that nothing exists.
As Christians, we should welcome this form of division because it doesn't sever unity. Instead, it allows us to discuss important matters and grow as individuals. Just as sword sharpens sword, man sharpens man.
To those of you reading this who are more secular, don't feel alienated because your perspective on matters is also taken into account.
This article, unlike many of my others, is not an attempt to prove a point about anything. I find it frustrating how little attention is given to this important subject and simply wish to present the information to you, where it can thereafter be discussed. I encourage you to do your own research and don't rush into judgment. It is, in fact, possible to believe in two viewpoints on this list simultaneously. In fact, some are just more drastic forms of another.
The views will be arranged in a particular order that makes sense in my own mind (authoritarian to libertarian religious views.) I am thinking about developing a religious chart mirroring that of the political one developed by David Nolan, which was the inspiration for me writing this. But for right now, I'll just give a brief description (I obviously won't go into every detail of every viewpoint, weighing in the merits and flaws I perceive or the history or any of that; this will be a very general list) of each platform and open for discourse.
Dystheist
Believes in God. Sees him as inherently hostile to humankind.
Epicureanism
Believes in God. Does not believe in an afterlife.
Note: I'm using this term loosely. There was no existing term that I'm aware of that fits this perspective, so I'm applying the namesake of Epicurus, who believed in the existence of a higher power, but rejected the notion of an afterlife.
Calvinism
Believes in God. Believes in limited atonement and predestined salvation.
Click here to read the Five Points Of Calvinism.
Thomism
Believes in God. Believes salvation is predestined, but differs from Calvinism in that they believe that God predestines based on foresight of our future actions.
Molinist
Believes in God. Believes that salvation is predicated on free will, but believes that God sees all possible options and all of our choices with every circumstance placed in front of us. Using this knowledge, He bases salvation on the events that lead to the highest rate of salvation.
Classical Arminianism
Believes in God. Believes salvation is reached through free will with synergy from start to finish with God. Differences from Wesleyan Arminianism can be read here.
Click here to read more.
Wesleyan Arminianism
Believes in God. Believes salvation is reached through free will with synergy from start to finish with God. Differences from Wesleyan Arminianism can be read here.
Semipelagianism
Believes in God. Believes salvation is initiated by man's free will and thereafter, is guided by God.
Pelagianism
Believes in God. Believes man achieves salvation by his own means.
Apocatastasis
Believes in God. Believes all men are saved.
Deism
Believes in God. But rejects the notion that God intervenes in human affairs or suspends the natural laws of the universe.
Agnosticism
Maintains that the existence of God and an afterlife cannot be known.
Atheism
Believes that God does not exist and as a byproduct, neither does an afterlife.
Solipsism
Believes that only the self exists.
Nihilism
Believes that nothing exists.