Socinian

1 of 2

noun (1)

So·​cin·​i·​an sə-ˈsi-nē-ən 

sō-

: an adherent of a 16th and 17th century theological movement professing belief in God and adherence to the Christian Scriptures but denying the divinity of Christ and consequently denying the Trinity

Socinian adjective

Socinianism

sə-ˈsi-nē-ə-ˌni-zəm 

sō-

noun

Socinianism

2 of 2

noun (2)

So·​cin·​i·​an·​ism -əˌnizəm 

plural -s

: the rationalistic doctrines and anti-Trinitarian theological movement originating in the middle of the 16th century in Italy and developed in Poland under the leadership of Socinus who denied the tenets of the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, the personality of the Devil, the native and total depravity of man, substitutionary atonement, the efficacy of the sacraments, and the eternity of future punishment and affirmed instead the tenets that Christ was a man miraculously conceived by the Virgin Mary, that the Holy Spirit is a power or influence exerted by God, that human sin is the imitation of Adam's sin, that salvation is something to be achieved by the imitation of Christ's virtue, and that the Bible is to be interpreted by and as being in accord with human reason

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

New Latin socinianus, from Faustus Socinus

Noun (2)

New Latin socinianismus, from socinianus socinian + Latin -ismus -ism

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1614, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Socinian

• linnean
• augustinian
• darwinian