The Vocabulary of Religious "Common-ism"
Commonly used "isms":
Please note the definitions below are quoted from an apparently "mainstream" web site and are expressed as commonly used by those holding "mainstream" opinions or doctrines. According to the "mainstream" theologians of Christ's time, he was a "blasphemer". According to the Catholic church, Protestants are heretics. While Saturday is the seventh day and the original "Sabbath" from creation through the time of Christ and of all the disciples, its observance today is labeled as "cultish doctrine".
The meaning of a definition therefore, depends upon its source or upon the bias of the one speaking. (For instance, see "Fundamentalism", below.)
We have inserted the marker "[mainstream opinion]" in those definitions where the meaning is subjective.
Also, in some definitions, multiple beliefs are grouped together as though inseparable (e.g. Arianism, Arminianism). Hence, a person holding a single belief from among the group of beliefs would automatically be accused of holding them all, when labeled with the "ism" definition.
"Agnosticism - The belief that it is not possible to know if there is or is not a God. (Compare Atheism, Deism, and Theism.)"
"Antinomianism - The word comes from the Greek anti, against, and nomos, law. It is the unbiblical practice of living without regard to the righteousness of God, using God's grace as a license to sin, and trusting grace to cleanse of sin. In other words, since grace is infinite and we are saved by grace, then we can sin all we want and still be saved. "
[Note that the concept of "once saved, always saved" would come under this definition.]"Arianism - An ancient theological error [mainstream opinion] that appeared around the year 320. It taught that God could not appear on the earth, that Jesus was not eternal and could not be God. Additionally, it taught that there was only one person in the Godhead: the Father. Jesus, then, was a creation. It was condemned by the Council of Nicea in 325.
The Jehovah's Witness cult is an equivalent, though not exactly, of this ancient error.""Arminianism - There are five main tenets of Arminianism: 1) God elects or reproves on the basis of foreseen faith or unbelief, 2) Christ died for all men and for every man, although only believers are saved, 3) Man is so depraved that divine grace is necessary unto faith or any good deed, 4) This grace may be resisted, 5) Whether all who are truly regenerate will certainly persevere in the faith is a point which needs further investigation.1 (Compare with Calvinism)"
"Atheism - This word comes from two Greek words, athe - negator, and theos - God. Atheism teaches that there is no God of any kind, anywhere, anytime. Logically, an atheist would be an evolutionist."
[Actually, many atheists seem to have more of a problem with "mainstream religions" and their "projected gods", than with the idea of one supreme God. Some seem to be Deists (Deism) believing that there is, or may be, a God, but that he is not involved with man's "religions".]"Calvinism - A system of Christian interpretation initiated by John Calvin. It emphasizes predestination and salvation. The five points of Calvinism were developed in response to the Arminian position (See Arminianism). Calvinism teaches: 1) Total depravity: that man is touched by sin in all parts of his being: body, soul, mind, and emotions, 2) Unconditional Election: that God's favor to Man is completely by God?s free choice and has nothing to do with Man. It is completely undeserved by Man and is not based on anything God sees in man (Eph. 1:1-11), 3) Limited atonement: that Christ did not bear the sins of every individual who ever lived, but instead only bore the sins of those who were elected into salvation (John 10:11,15), 4) Irresistible grace: that God's call to someone for salvation cannot be resisted, 5) Perseverance of the saints: that it is not possible to lose one's salvation (John 10:27-28)."
"Chiliasm - Also known as millenniumism. The belief that there is a future 1000 year reign of Christ where perfect peace will reign."
"Deism - The belief that God exists but is not involved in the world. It maintains that God created all things and set the universe in motion and is no longer involved in its operation. (Compare to Atheism, Agnosticism, and Theism.)"
"Dispensation(alism) - In the Scofield Reference Bible a dispensation is "a period of time during which man is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God" Dispensationalism says that God uses different means of administering His will and grace to His people. These different means coincide with different periods of time. Scofield says there are seven dispensations: of innocence, of conscience, of civil government, of promise, of law, of grace, and of the kingdom. Dispensationalists interpret the scriptures in light of these (or other perceived) dispensations. (Compare to Covenant.)"
"Eutychianism - This is similar to Monophycitism. It states that Christ's natures were so thoroughly combined -- in a sense scrambled together -- that the result was that Christ was not really truly able to relate to us as humans. The problem is this implies that Jesus was not truly God nor man. Therefore, He would be unable to act as mediator and unable to truly atone for our sins. (See Hypostatic Union, which is the correct [mainstream opinion] view of Christ's two natures, and also Nestorianism and Monophycitism which are the incorrect views of Christ's two natures.)"
"Infralapsarianism - An issue within Reformed theology dealing with what may have happened in God's mind regarding the logical order of His considering whom to elect into salvation before the foundation of the world. The word means "after the fall." The position is that God first decided he would allow sin into the world and second that he would then save people from it. By contrast, the supralapsarian ("before the fall") position holds that God first decided that he would save some people and then second that he would allow sin into the world."
"Modalism - The error [mainstream opinion] that there is only one person in the Godhead who manifests himself in three forms or manners: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."
"Monergism - The teaching that God alone is the one who saves. It is opposed to synergism which teaches that God and man work together in salvation. Cults [mainstream opinion] are synergistic. Christianity is monergistic."
Monophycitism - This is an error [mainstream opinion] regarding the two natures of Jesus (See Hypostatic Union). It states that Jesus' two natures are combined into one new one; the problem here is that neither God nor man was represented in Christ but a new third thing. (Other errors regarding the two natures of Christ are Nestorianism and Eutychianism.)
Monotheism - The belief that there is only one God in all places at all times. There were none before God and there will be none after Him. Monotheism is the teaching of the Bible (Is. 43:10; 44:6,8; 45:5,14,18,21,22; 46:9; 47:8).
"Nestorianism - States that the two natures of Christ were so separated from each other that they were "not in contact"; the problem here is that worship of the human Jesus would then not be allowed. (See also Hypostatic Union, Eutychianism, and Monophycitism.)"
"Pantheism - This is an identification of the universe with God. With this view there is a blurring of the distinction between the Creator and the creation as well as an attack upon the personality and nature of God. Pantheism tends to equate God with the process of the universe and states that the universe is God and God is the universe. This is not true because God is the creator of the universe (Is. 44:24) and therefore separate from it."
"Pedobaptism - The practice of infant baptism."
"Pelagianism - The teaching of a monk named Pelagius in the fifth Century. He taught that man's will was and still is free to choose good or evil and there is no inherited sin (through Adam). Every infant born into the world is in the same condition as Adam before the fall and becomes a sinner because he sins. This is opposed [mainstream opinion] to the Biblical teaching that we are by nature children of wrath (Eph. 2:3) and that we sin because we are sinners. Pelagius said we are able to keep the commandments of God because God has given us the ability. Therefore, there is no need of redemption and the crucifixion of Jesus is merely a supreme example of love, humility, obedience, and sacrifice. This heresy has its relatives in the form of the cults that deny the total dependence upon God and maintain that salvation is obtainable through our own efforts. (Compare to Arminianism and Calvinism.)
[Note that this definition blurs the distinction between the concepts of "free will", "inherited sin", "whether or not man has the ability to resist sin", "the need for redemption for past sins through Christ", and "total dependence upon God", as though they are all one subject and yet, implies that they are contradictory and mutually exclusive."
"Polytheism - The teaching that there are many gods."
"Postmillennialism - The belief that through the preaching of the word of God, the entire world will be converted to Christianity and this will usher in the kingdom of Christ. This is when Christ will return."
"Premillennialism - This is a teaching concerning the end times (eschatology). It says that there is a future millennium (1000 years) where Christ will rule and reign over the earth. At the beginning of the millennium Satan and his angels will be bound and peace will exist on the entire earth. At the end of the 1000 years Satan will be released in order to raise an army against Jesus. Jesus will destroy them and then the final judgment will take place with the new heavens and the new earth being made."
"Sacerdotalism - The teaching that ordination imparts special abilities/powers necessary for the operation of the ministry. Also, the teaching that grace is administered through the one so ordained."
"Scholasticism - The method of study in the Middle Ages which was used to support the doctrines of the church through reason and logic."
"Subjectivism - The teaching that the individual is the source and judge of all religious knowledge based upon his own knowledge and experience."
"Supralapsarianism - An issue within Reformed theology dealing with what may have happened in God's mind regarding the logical order of His considering whom to elect into salvation before the foundation of the world. The word means "before the fall." This position holds that God first decided that he would save some people and then second that he would allow sin into the world. By contrast, the infralapsarian ("after the fall") position is the reverse in that it holds that God first decided he would allow sin into the world and second that he would then save people from it."
"Synergism - The teaching that we cooperate with God in our efforts of salvation. This is opposed to monergism which is the teaching that God is the sole agent involved in salvation. Cults are synergistic [mainstream opinion] in that they teach that God's grace combined with our efforts are what makes forgiveness of sins possible."
"Theism - The teaching that there is a God and that He is actively involved in the affairs of the world. This does not necessitate the Christian concept of God, but includes it. (Compare to Deism)"
"Unitarianism - A theological error [mainstream opinion] that holds to the unity of God by denying the Trinity, the deity of Jesus, and the deity of the Holy Spirit. Unitarians teach the unity of God and hold to a common system of believing as you will about God, salvation, sin, etc. They often profess to have no dogma. Unitarians also hold to the universal redemption of all mankind." [Note that multiple beliefs are being lumped together here by sweeping generalizations.]
"Universalism - The teaching that all people will eventually be saved through the universal redemption of Jesus. Some universalists teach that even the devil, after a time of punishment, will be redeemed."
The standard definition of the terms above are found at http://www.carm.org/dictionary.htm
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The following are at http://www.gospelcom.net/apologeticsindex/a00.html
"Pantheism - A world view. The belief that only the spiritual dimension exists. Pantheists refer to the perception of a material reality as maya, which means illusion. Some pantheistic religions are: Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism. Pantheism also forms the basis for Transcendental Meditation and some aspects of New Age mysticism."
"Pluralism -The theory that there are more than one or more than two kinds of ultimate reality and/or truth - and that therefore more than one religion can be said to have the truth (way to God, salvation, etcetera). (Compare Open Metaphysics.)
Many pro-cult apologists are pluralists." [Note that many ecumenicalists are also pluralists.]"Pluralism is an affirmation of the validity of every religion, and the refusal to choose between them, and the rejection of world evangelism.
(John Stott, Interview with Orange County Register)(See also: Religious Freedom, Tolerance, and Intolerance, Religious Tolerance; Interfaith; eclecticism; cafeteria religion. see articles)"
"Proselytism - Proselytism is the act of encouraging people to convert from one religion, belief or party to another. Also: to make proselytes. In some countries, notably in the Middle East, evangelizing with the aim of getting people to change religions (esp. from, say, Islam or Judaism to Christianity), is discouraged or illegal. Some faiths consider any evangelism by other faiths to be disrespectful. And in today's post-modern society, some people see evangelism as intolerance or even a hate crime.
(Sometimes referred to as "sheep stealing")"
[Note, it is usually only disparaged by those losing members, not by those who are gaining members. It is unofficially practiced by all religions, including pluralists.]
"Antidogmatism - The idea that doctrine and systematic theology do not matter, are detrimental to the essence of religion, and are thus not necessary for membership or initiation. (Compare dogma.)"
"Fundamentialism - In America, the movement protesting against liberal theology became known as 'fundamentalism'. Fundamentalists believed not only in the verbal inspiration and infallibility of the Bible, but also in a whole series of evangelical doctrines published around 1909 under the title of THE FUNDAMENTALS. The writers included such men as B B Warfield, H C G Moule and James Orr. They emphasized the substitutionary death of Christ on the cross, the reality of eternal punishment, and the need for personal conversion. In later years the term 'fundamentalism' came to denote an unduly defensive and obscurantist attitude which was anti-scholarly, anti-intellectual and anti-cultural. For this reason, many conservative theologians who might be regarded as heirs of the original fundamentalists disown the label today.
{From Handbook To The History Of Christianity, ed. Tim Dowley (Lion, Berkhamsted, England; Eerdmans, Grand Rapids MI, USA, 1977) p 596.}"
[Note the irony of the "protesters" becoming the "establishment" and now objecting to the idea of "protest", and even to the "label".]
"British Israelism - Also known as Christian Identity, Anglo- or British-Israelism. Adherents believe present day Anglo-Saxon people are direct descendants of the ancient Israelites, and have thus inherited all God's promises to Abraham and his descendants.
( More information at: Identity Movement)"
"Cessationism - Cessationists believe that the gifts of the Spirit ceased at the end of the apostolic age, or when the Bible was completed."
"Eclectism - The theory or practice of selecting what is considered best in various doctrines or practices. (See also syncretism.)"
[This differs from ecumenicalism in that it does not accept all elements of every religion.]
[This is also derogatorily termed "cafeteria religion". All religions contradict one another, therefore they cannot all be right. They could all be wrong, but if we are generous, and allow that most, if not all, contain some element of truth, then the one true religion could contain elements from many of these contradictory religions. The true believers then, would be "eclectic" according to "mainstream opinion". Just something to think about.]
"Syncretism - A world view. The combination of different forms of belief and/or practice. (See also eclecticism, and cafeteria religion.)
The combining or merging and synthesizing of religions or religious beliefs, practices, and philosophies. This results in new or hybrid religions that are composed of diverse elements of the religions from which they were derived.
(Craig Hawkins, The Modern World of Witchcraft, part 2, glossary Christian Research Journal, Winter/Spring 1990)"
"Humanism - Humanism is an ideology based on the centrality of humankind. It is possible to espouse theistic humanism, or even Christian Humanism. In these cases, the term humanism means a concern for humanistic goals, with the understanding that God is the final solution to man's needs. Secular humanism, on the other hand, implies a focus on man apart from God, whether or not God exists.
(From: Optimistic Secular Humanism)"
"Hylozoism - The concept that everything, inanimate matter includes, is in some sense alive. (Compare animism.)"
"Sabellianism - Heretical [mainstream opinion] teaching denying the doctrine of the Trinity
Sabellianism was an attempt to solve the problem [mainstream opinion] of how to accept the deity of Christ and also maintain the unity of God. Sabellians achieved this at the expense of a trinity of persons in the Godhead. They reduced the status of the persons to modes or manifestations of the one God. The term is frequently coupled with the word 'monarchy' to denote the primacy of God as the Father.The Son and the Holy Spirit are thus revelatory and apparently temporal modes of God the Father's self-revelation...
{Dr. Samuel Mikolaski, professor of Historical Theology and Christian Heritage at North American Baptist Seminary, "The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church " J.D. Douglas ed., pp.870-871}"
[Note that sometimes the "mainstream" definition increases rather than reduces the confusion.]
"Animism -A world view. Animists believe that an impersonal power is present in all objects (specifically, all of nature). They believe that various spirits inhabit and influence the world, and that these spirits can be influenced to serve man. Animism is simultaneously pantheistic, polytheistic, and deistic. (Compare hylozoism.)"
"Trinitarianism -"As this doctrine is believed on the one hand or challenged on the other, Christian life is found to be affected at its roots and over all its extent. Every doctrine is run up to it [mainstream opinion]; every privilege and duty hangs on it... However a man may begin his career of error [sic], the general issue is that the doctrine of the Trinity, proving an unexpected check or insurmountable obstacle in the carrying out of his opinions, has to be modified or pushed aside; and he comes to be against the Trinity because he has found it was against him."
{George Smeaton, The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (Carlisle, Pa.: The Banner of Truth, 1980), p.5}"
[One should keep in mind that those who spend time constructing an idol, tend to over exaggerate its importance.]"A person who claims the doctrine of the Trinity is false because the word "Trinity" is not found in Scripture is as foolish as someone who claims 3½ inches, or, say, 5¼ centimeters do not exist because his ruler only shows whole numbers."
[Did he just say that this doctrine is based on grammatical hair-splitting?]""The doctrine of the Trinity is presented in Scripture clearly enough for spiritual people to recognize, and solidly enough for unspiritual people to stumble over."[mainstream opinion]
Anton Hein (For resources see this Extended Entry)"
[Note the use of labels, ("spiritual" versus "unspiritual") as name-calling in lieu of arguments or proof to support the opinion.]
[Special Note: This entry was presented within a list of definitions. However no definition is given here. Rather, three quotes are given. The first gushes over the alleged "importance" of this doctrine. The second is an ineffective analogy that simply labels opponents as "foolish". The third alleges the doctrine is "clearly" presented in scripture, but resorts to name-calling rather than presenting evidence or explanation.
It appears, and not just from this example, that it is far easier for supporters of this doctrine to attack its opponents than to explain it, prove it or defend it. This choice by supporters only reduces the creditability of the doctrine.]
"Christian Reconstructionism -An extremist movement in Christianity, that advocates the modern-day application of Old Testament law in ''reconstructing'' the Kingdom of God (lost with the Fall) on earth. Constructionism is advocated by individuals, groups, organizations, and churches collectively known as the ''Christian Right.''
Constructionism is also known as ''theonomy.'' In includes elements of Dominion- or Kingdom Now theology."
"Postmodernism - -The new way of thinking (as opposed to modernism: the old way of thinking).The postmodern era can best be understood in terms of four major characteristics: the decline of the West, the legitimation crisis, the intellectual marketplace, and the process of deconstruction.(12) Indeed, we can say that these four characteristics define the meaning of postmodernity.
(See essay at http://www.crosscurrents.org/adams.htm)
(See Extended Entry)"
"Unionism -Fellowship between churches and/or denominations without there being unity in doctrine and practice. (See Unity)"
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