What is Cassianism?

Answer

John Cassian was a monk who passed away around 430 years after the birth of Christ. His writings are recognized for contributing to the development of themes such as the monastic way of life and the well-known Seven Deadly Sins in Western Christianity. Cassian’s perspective on grace, faith, and free will has sparked controversy, with many Reformed scholars accusing him of being semi-Pelagian. However, Cassian’s beliefs were distinct from those of Pelagius, and his writings do not completely align with later Pelagian or semi-Pelagian works. As a result, although infrequently, his specific theological views are known as Cassianism.

Cassian’s time as a monk played a crucial role in shaping his writing and theological outlook. He was an ascetic, meaning he actively shunned worldly pleasures. Nonetheless, Cassian’s asceticism was balanced with a degree of practicality and did not reach the extremes of some other monks. His approach to the monastic lifestyle would later have a significant impact on the expansion and evolution of the Benedictine Order.

From a theological standpoint, Cassian remains a topic of debate. He wrote against Nestorianism and appears to critique it in a manner that also dismisses Pelagianism. Nevertheless, Cassian’s views on free will and grace did not entirely align with later Reformed perspectives. Cassian believed that the will could be overcome—and indeed must be overcome—in order to receive grace. This is why he is often categorized as semi-Pelagian. Some scholars challenge this classification, arguing that his perspective—sometimes known as Cassianism—is actually distinct.

John Cassian’s writings also delved into a list that classified certain “deadly” sins, similar to the works of other theologians of his time. However, Cassian’s writings had a profound influence on Pope Gregory I, who reorganized and condensed Cassian’s list of eight sins into what is now recognized as the

“Seven Deadly Sins.”

John Cassian exemplifies a historical figure whose impact is widely experienced throughout an entire faith, yet his name and legacy have largely faded into obscurity.