Disputes about sin: St.Augustine and pelagianism
Disputes
St. Augustine countered Pelagianism, according to which God created men with the possibility and the will to be able to work good by denying the obstacle of original sin; everyone would be solely responsible for their own sin.
In the fight against Manicheanism, Pelagius affirmed the goodness of creation; God cannot be the author of evil, for which only man is responsible; he has received from God the freedom to do the commanded good by the grace of the law, with the example and words of Jesus, who educate man to fulfill His will.
With God-given nature, pagans can do good too, but Christians can do more with the grace of the intellect and the example of Christ; however − Celestius retorted – if he needed outward and concrete aids to orient to good his will would not be free.
St. Augustine pointed out that God’s reason or will commands to maintain the natural order and forbids to upset it, while it is necessary to pray for God’s help, indispensable because of the rooting of sin in man.