The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (248 page)
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Armenian Massacres
:
:
Arminius, Jacobus
(1560–1609).
Dutch theologian who gave his name to the system of theology known as Arminianism. He became professor at Leiden, where there were arguments over
predestination
, leading to severe divisions. Arminius held that God willed that all people should be saved, and that it is only because God foresaw the belief or unbelief of individuals that he can be said to have predestined some to salvation, others to damnation. After his death, his followers issued the Remonstrance of 1610, from which the major differences from strict Calvinism can be discerned:
Dutch theologian who gave his name to the system of theology known as Arminianism. He became professor at Leiden, where there were arguments over
predestination
, leading to severe divisions. Arminius held that God willed that all people should be saved, and that it is only because God foresaw the belief or unbelief of individuals that he can be said to have predestined some to salvation, others to damnation. After his death, his followers issued the Remonstrance of 1610, from which the major differences from strict Calvinism can be discerned:
(i) Christ died for all;
(ii) God's saving grace can be resisted;
(iii) Christians can fall from grace;
(iv) the Holy Spirit is necessary to help the achievement of what is good;
(v) salvation is for those who believe in Christ and who persist in holiness, obedience, and faith. Arminius and Arminianism had a wide (though always contested) influence, including such figures as Grotius and John
Wesley
.
Armour of Faith
(Zoroastrian)
:
(Zoroastrian)
:
Armstrong, Herbert W.
(b. 1892).
Leader of the ‘Worldwide Church of God’. Armstrong began as a preacher on radio in the USA in the 1930s, and became widely known through the radio programme ‘The World Tomorrow’, after 1955 continued by his son Garner Ted.
Armstrong's doctrines owe much to British Israelism. Their major theme is the reference of biblical prophecy to Britain and America and to current events (e.g. war in the Middle East as a ‘sign of the times’ and precursor of
Armageddon
). Worship is on the Sabbath (Saturday), and Jewish festivals are observed rather than Christmas and Easter; the
Ten Commandments
figure prominently; several
tithes
are required of church members. Medicine is deprecated in favour of spiritual healing. Since the 1970s the organization has suffered from scandals over the style of life of some of its leaders.
Leader of the ‘Worldwide Church of God’. Armstrong began as a preacher on radio in the USA in the 1930s, and became widely known through the radio programme ‘The World Tomorrow’, after 1955 continued by his son Garner Ted.
Armstrong's doctrines owe much to British Israelism. Their major theme is the reference of biblical prophecy to Britain and America and to current events (e.g. war in the Middle East as a ‘sign of the times’ and precursor of
Armageddon
). Worship is on the Sabbath (Saturday), and Jewish festivals are observed rather than Christmas and Easter; the
Ten Commandments
figure prominently; several
tithes
are required of church members. Medicine is deprecated in favour of spiritual healing. Since the 1970s the organization has suffered from scandals over the style of life of some of its leaders.
Arnauld, Antoine
(known sometimes as ‘Arnauld the Great’
,
(known sometimes as ‘Arnauld the Great’
,
1612–94).
Christian philosopher and controversialist. He studied and taught at the Sorbonne until he was expelled (1656) for his
Jansenist
views. In 1643 he had published a book on frequent communion (of that title) stressing the need for thorough preparation and appropriate disposition, and in 1644 an anonymous apology for Jansen. His major writings were
The Art of Thinking
(with Pierre Nicole, 1662), also known as the
Port Royal Logic
, and
Concerning True and False Ideas
(1683). He developed (while criticizing) Cartesian logic and views, pointing out, for example, the circularity in one of
Descartes
arguments: the idea of God depends on the clarity and distinctness of our perception of him, while the truth of our clear and distinct perceptions depends on God's existence. In theology, he, more than anyone else, was responsible for diffusing Jansenist ideas.
Christian philosopher and controversialist. He studied and taught at the Sorbonne until he was expelled (1656) for his
Jansenist
views. In 1643 he had published a book on frequent communion (of that title) stressing the need for thorough preparation and appropriate disposition, and in 1644 an anonymous apology for Jansen. His major writings were
The Art of Thinking
(with Pierre Nicole, 1662), also known as the
Port Royal Logic
, and
Concerning True and False Ideas
(1683). He developed (while criticizing) Cartesian logic and views, pointing out, for example, the circularity in one of
Descartes
arguments: the idea of God depends on the clarity and distinctness of our perception of him, while the truth of our clear and distinct perceptions depends on God's existence. In theology, he, more than anyone else, was responsible for diffusing Jansenist ideas.
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