Editing Socinianism (section)

==Beliefs==
Socinian theology, as summarised in the [[Racovian Catechism]], rejected the views of [[Orthodoxy#Christianity|orthodox]] [[Christian theology]] on God's knowledge, on the [[doctrine of the Trinity]] and the divinity of [[Christ]], and on [[soteriology]].

===Christology===
{{Further|Incarnation (Christianity)}}
The Racovian publications, like the Sozzinis, rejected the [[pre-existence of Christ]] and held that [[Jesus]] did not exist until he was [[Virgin birth of Jesus|conceived]] as a human being. This view had been put forward before by the 4th-century bishop [[Photinus]], but it conflicts with the mainline [[Protestant]], [[Eastern Orthodox]], and [[Catholic]] views, which hold that the [[Logos (Christianity)|Logos]] referred to in the [[Gospel of John]] was Jesus.

===Human nature===
{{Further|Tree of the knowledge of good and evil}}
The Socinians held that humans were created mortal in the beginning and would have died naturally whether [[Adam and Eve]] had [[Fall of man|eaten from the tree]] or not.<ref>"[Man] was originally created mortal; that is, was so constituted that he was not only by nature capable of dying, but also, if left to himself, could not but die." ''The Racovian Catechism'' (English trans. Thomas Rees, London 1818), p. 20.</ref> They also rejected the doctrine of [[original sin]].<ref>"The fall of Adam, as it was but one act, could not have power to deprave his own nature, much less that of his posterity." ''The Racovian Catechism'' (English trans. Thomas Rees, London 1818), p. 326.</ref>

===Atonement===
Socinianism also rejected the [[Satisfaction theory of atonement|propitiatory view of atonement]].<ref>"Did not Christ die also, in order, properly speaking, to purchase our salvation, and literally to pay the debt of our sins? Although Christians at this time commonly so believe, yet this notion is false, erroneous, and exceedingly pernicious; since they conceive that Christ suffered an equivalent punishment for our sins, and by the price of his obedience exactly compensated our disobedience." ''The Racovian Catechism'' (English trans. Thomas Rees, London 1818), pp. 303–304.</ref>

===Predestination and omniscience===
The Socinians 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.<ref>''The Racovian Catechism'' (English trans. Thomas Rees, London 1818), pp. 332–346.</ref> Modern [[process theology]] and [[open theism]] advance a similar viewpoint.