Enkratites

Enkratites were an early Christian ascetic sect that emerged in the 2nd century CE. The name "Enkratites" is derived from the Greek word enkrateia, meaning "self-control" or "continence." This core principle guided their practices, which primarily involved abstaining from sexual intercourse, marriage, and in some cases, meat and wine.

The exact origins of Enkratism are debated, but it is often associated with figures like Tatian, a disciple of Justin Martyr, who wrote a work called the Diatessaron and advocated for a rigorous ascetic lifestyle. Enkratites believed that procreation was a sinful act, as it perpetuated the material world and the suffering inherent within it. This view stemmed from a dualistic understanding of the world, where the spiritual realm was considered pure and good, while the material realm was seen as corrupt and evil.

Their asceticism extended beyond sexual abstinence. Many Enkratites also abstained from animal products, adhering to a vegetarian diet. This was often linked to a belief in the transmigration of souls, or a general reverence for life that extended to all creatures.

The Enkratite movement was not a monolithic entity and exhibited variations in its specific doctrines and practices across different regions and periods. They were often viewed with suspicion by the mainstream church, which, while valuing asceticism, did not endorse the absolute rejection of marriage and procreation as a general rule for all Christians. Some Church Fathers, such as Irenaeus and Epiphanius of Salamis, wrote against what they perceived as heretical aspects of Enkratism. Despite facing opposition, Enkratite communities persisted for several centuries, particularly in certain parts of the Roman Empire and the East.