mesopelagian

Mesopelagian refers to a theological system developed by the 14th-century English theologian Thomas Bradwardine. It is a complex doctrine that attempts to reconcile the concepts of divine foreknowledge and human free will, addressing the problem of evil and predestination. The term "Mesopelagian" itself is not one that Bradwardine used; it is a later scholarly designation derived from the Pelagian controversy of late antiquity, as Bradwardine's views were seen by some as having a connection to, or a response to, Pelagian ideas, though his system is distinct.

Bradwardine's core argument centers on the absolute sovereignty and foreknowledge of God. He posited that God's knowledge of all future events, including human actions, is not merely passive observation but an active decree. This divine decree, Bradwardine argued, preordains all that will happen. However, he also sought to maintain that humans are genuinely responsible for their choices and that God is not the author of sin. He proposed that God's decree operates in such a way that it determines events without violating the nature of created beings, including their capacity for free choice.

The intricacies of Mesopelagianism involve detailed discussions of causality, divine will, and the nature of contingency. Bradwardine's work, particularly his "De Causa Dei" (On the Cause of God), engaged deeply with Augustinian theology, often presenting a more radical interpretation of predestination. Scholars continue to analyze and debate the precise implications and coherence of Bradwardine's thought, with some viewing it as a sophisticated attempt to uphold divine omnipotence while others find it ultimately deterministic. The Mesopelagian system remains a significant, though often debated, contribution to medieval theological thought.