Socinianism summarises the beliefs of the Socinians, followers of Laelius Socinus (died 1562 in Zürich) and of his nephew Faustus Socinus (died 1604 in Poland).

The Socinians congregated especially in the Transylvania, in Poland (see Polish brethren) and in the Netherlands. They held sceptical views on reason and rejected orthodox teachings on the Trinity and on the divinity of Jesus, as summarised in the Racovian Catechism. They also believed that God's omniscience was limited to what was a necessary truth in the future (what would definitely happen), and did not apply to what was a contingent truth (what might happen). They believed that, if God knew every possible future, human free will was impossible; and as such rejected the "hard" view of omniscience.

The Socinians were driven from their seat at Rakow in 1643.

Compare Socianism.

Antitrinitarianism | Heresy

Socinianisme | Sozinianismus | Socinianisme | Socinianesimo | Socinianisme | Socinianism | Социніани