molinism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Specialist Term)Formal, Academic (Theology/Philosophy)
Quick answer
What does “molinism” mean?
A theological system developed by the Spanish Jesuit Luis de Molina (1535–1600) concerning divine grace, human free will, and divine foreknowledge.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A theological system developed by the Spanish Jesuit Luis de Molina (1535–1600) concerning divine grace, human free will, and divine foreknowledge.
In philosophy and theology, it refers to the attempt to reconcile God's sovereign providence and omniscience with genuine human libertarian free will, proposing the concept of 'middle knowledge' (scientia media). It contrasts with rival positions such as Thomism, Banezianism, and Calvinism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. UK usage may slightly prefer the Latinised spelling with a ligature (Molinism, though rare) in historical texts, but 'Molinism' is standard in both.
Connotations
In both UK and US academic theology, it carries the same neutral-to-scholarly connotation of a specific historical doctrine.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both varieties, with perhaps marginally higher frequency in US institutions with strong Jesuit academic traditions.
Grammar
How to Use “molinism” in a Sentence
The debate over [Molinism] continues.[Molinism] is often contrasted with [Thomism].He wrote a treatise on/defending [Molinism].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “molinism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Theologians Molinise the concepts of grace and will. (very rare, theoretical)
- He sought to Molinise the doctrine of predestination. (theoretical)
American English
- The philosopher attempted to Molinize the argument from free will. (theoretical)
- They debated whether one could Molinize contemporary theology. (theoretical)
adverb
British English
- He argued Molinistically for the coherence of divine knowledge. (rare)
- The doctrine was interpreted Molinistically. (rare)
American English
- The theory is framed Molinistically. (rare)
- She explained the concept Molinistically. (rare)
adjective
British English
- The Molinist solution appealed to many Jesuit scholars.
- It was a distinctively Molinist perspective.
American English
- He offered a Molinist interpretation of the passage.
- The Molinist account of foreknowledge is complex.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in theology, philosophy of religion, and intellectual history departments. 'The seminar will explore the debates between Molinism and Banezianism in the 16th century.'
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be encountered or used.
Technical
Used precisely within its specific theological domain to denote a system of thought on grace and free will.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “molinism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “molinism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “molinism”
- Incorrect: 'Molinism is a type of millennialism.' (It is not.)
- Incorrect: Pronouncing it /mɒˈlaɪnɪzəm/ or /ˈmɒlɪnɪzəm/. The first syllable is 'moe/ mow'.
- Incorrect: Using it as a general term for any compromise position.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It originated within and is most closely associated with Catholic (specifically Jesuit) theology. However, its conceptual tools, particularly 'middle knowledge,' have been adopted and debated by some Protestant philosophers and theologians in contemporary discussions.
A major criticism, advanced by rival Thomist/Banezian schools, is the 'grounding objection': it questions what grounds the truth of the counterfactuals of creaturely freedom that God is said to know in His middle knowledge, arguing they lack a real foundation prior to God's creative decree.
Molinism affirms libertarian free will, meaning humans can genuinely choose between alternatives, even under God's providence. Calvinism (in its classical form) affirms compatibilist free will or denies free will in the libertarian sense, emphasizing God's unconditional election and the efficacious determination of the will by grace.
A classic example is: 'If David were in situation S at time T, he would freely choose to repent.' Molinism holds God knows the truth value of all such statements (scientia media) before deciding which world, with which situations and people, to actualise.
Molinism is usually formal, academic (theology/philosophy) in register.
Molinism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈməʊlɪnɪzəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmoʊlɪnɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MOLE (Molina) digging a middle tunnel (middle knowledge) between two hills: God's Hill (Providence) and Human Hill (Free Will). 'Mole-in-ism' built the middle path.
Conceptual Metaphor
THEOLOGY IS A BATTLEFIELD (Molinism is a strategic position in the conflict between divine sovereignty and human freedom). KNOWLEDGE IS A LANDSCAPE (Middle knowledge is a 'middle ground' between God's natural and free knowledge).
Practice
Quiz
Molinism is primarily a doctrine concerned with: