Jansenism

[Cerys]

Could someone please give me an idea or basic explanation of what the heresy of Jansenism is about?

Am I right in thinking that it encourages people to think that they will have a better chance of going to heaven than others? It does not matter what they do, they will go to heaven anyway? as they have been especially chosen for this purpose.

I have also come across a belief that no-one goes to hell; that there is only purgatory to contend with. Surely this is also a very dangerous, if not heretical assumption to make?

Hopeing for some help in sorting this out.

Cerys

 

[CapIV]

My basic understanding (which is limited) is that Jansenists denied Free Will and overplayed predestination (which caused them to be accused of being Calvinists).

The notion that Hell does not exist is indeed a heresy. As is the idea that no one can go there. However, I have come across some theologians who avoid (seemingly) heresy by saying; “Hell is a real place but we don’t really know if anyone is actually there”.

 

[Sidekick]

You basic understanding of Jansenism is good. I would not call it Calvinism though. Jansenism came about in reaction to the laxity of the Jesuits in France. The Jansenist thought the Jesuits were easy in the confessional and not making sure that the person really was repentive of their sins. The Jansenist believed the Church needed to go back to the moral strictness of the early Church. This was not the Jansenist main problem though. The reason why thet wanted confession to be strict was because they thought man’s will was destroyed by original sin but could not do good. Thus, man’s will needed God’s grace to do good. What threw them out of the Church was they did not believe God gave all humanity the grace to good or be saved. I think they believed even if God choose someone to be saved, they had the free will to decline it though it would be hard. Again though their major flaw ways the denied that God wanted all men to be save. I hope this helps.