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Montanism
Montanism , apocalyptic movement of the 2d cent. It arose in Phrygia (c.172) under the leadership of a certain Montanus and two female prophets, Prisca and Maximillia, whose entranced utterances were deemed oracles of the Holy Spirit. They had an immediate expectation of Judgment Day, and they encouraged ecstatic prophesying and strict asceticism. They believed that a Christian fallen from grace could never be redeemed, in opposition to the Catholic view that, since the sinner's contrition restored him to grace, the church must receive him again. Montanism antagonized the church because the sect claimed a superior authority arising from divine inspiration. Catholics were told that they should flee persecution, Montanists were told to seek it. When the Montanists began to set up a hierarchy of their own, the Catholic leaders, fearing to lose the cohesion essential to the survivial of persecuted Christianity, denounced the movement. Tertullian was a notable member of the movement, which died (c.220) as a sect, except in isolated areas of Phrygia, where it continued to the 7th cent. But the puristic anti-intellectual movement had many descendants— Novatian , the Donatists (see Donatism ), the Cathari , and even Emanuel Swedenborg and Edward Irving . |
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"Montanism." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Montanism." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Montanis.html "Montanism." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Montanis.html |
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Montanism
Montanism. A 2nd-cent. apocalyptic movement; its adherents expected a speedy outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church, and saw the first manifestations of this in their own leaders. Montanus began preaching in Phrygia in 156/7 or in 172. Associated with him were two women, Prisca and Maximilla.
The ascetic traits which developed were particularly prominent in an offshoot of the movement in Roman Africa, which won the allegiance of Tertullian. It disallowed second marriages, condemned the existing regulations on fasting as too lax, and forbade flight in persecution. |
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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Montanism." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Montanism." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Montanism.html E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Montanism." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Montanism.html |
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Montanism
Montanism. An early Christian heresy. In the latter half of the 2nd cent., Montanus, claiming the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (or Paraclete), prophesied that the Heavenly Jerusalem would soon descend near Pepuza in Phrygia. His followers were led by prophets and prophetesses, through whom the Paraclete spoke, and embraced a severe asceticism, marked by fasting, forbidding of second marriages, and an enthusiastic attitude to martyrdom.
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JOHN BOWKER. "Montanism." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Montanism." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Montanism.html JOHN BOWKER. "Montanism." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Montanism.html |
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