Historia Pelagiana

The Pelagian controversy of the 5th century was a major turning point in the history of Christianity. In its wake, the British ascetic Pelagius and his optimistic anthropology were condemned as heretical, whereas his most prominent and eminent opponent Augustine of Hippo influenced Christian anthropology and ethics with his concept of original sin for centuries to come. This did not change until the radical transformations of Christianity during the Age of Enlightenment. It was German Protestant scholars of the 18th century in particular who shed light on the proceedings and the outcome of the Pelagian controversy and objected to the traditional assessment. In doing so, they altered the view on Pelagius, Augustine and their theology.