Term
Donatism
A fourth-century North African schism that, while doctrinally orthodox, held a rigorist view of the church, emphasizing holiness and purity as essential.
Filed underHistorical TheologyEcclesiology
Definition
A schism that arose in North Africa after Diocletian's persecution at the beginning of the fourth century. Although orthodox in doctrine, the sect was rigorist in its view of the church, regarding holiness and purity as essential.
Connections
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- Narrower than
- RigoristTerm
Sources
- 1.Alan Richardson and John Bowden The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Theology. (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1983). 164Original citation: Richardson, Alan, and John Bowden. The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Theology. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1983, 164.
Last revised August 14, 2026