Sterilifidianism: Difference between revisions

'''Sterilifidianism''' is a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_theology Christian theological] position which holds that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sola_fide faith alone] brings salvation – regardless any [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_works good deeds]. The word was coined by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Taylor_Coleridge Samuel Taylor Coleridge] in order to “''more properly name[]''” [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monergism monergism] (or, in Coleridgian idiom, “''Antinomian Solifidianism''”).<ref>George Whalley (ed.), ''The Collected Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge 12: Marginalia 1 (Abbt to Byfield)'', Princeton University Press, 1980, p. 814.</ref>

Although the word can be used to describe the “''belief in the sufficiency of a ‘barren’ faith''”,<ref>According to the definition found in ''Oxford English Dictionary''.</ref> Coleridge contrasts sterilifidianism with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagianism Pelagianism] as the two extremes between which lies “''the Gospel Medium''” (as interpreted by John Bunyan, whose Pilgrim’s Progress Coleridge was reviewing). Coleridge expands on his views: “''It is indeed Faith alone that saves us; but it such a Faith as can not be alone. Purity and Beneficence are the Epidermis, Faith~Love the cutis vera of Christianity. Morality is the outward Cloth, Faith the Lining; both together form the Wedding-garment given to the true Believer by Christ [...]''”.<ref>''Ibid.'', p. 814-815. For more references, see p. 814 n24(1).</ref>

Perhaps this professed moderation, accompanied by the propagandistically anti-monergistic nature of sterilifidianism as a word, could reveal Coleridge on the verge of an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synergism#Eastern_Orthodox_theology Eastern Orthodox version of synergism]. But it would take [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kallistos_Ware Kallistos Ware] to discuss such a speculation.