Thomasian Church

Disciplina Arcani
A unifying belief of the Thomasine creed is the belief that there is a set of teachings, doctrines and rites that were concealed from the majority of the disciples of Christ but were revealed by him to his brother, Judas Thomas, and subsequently by Thomas to his followers and from then unto the present day. The thrust of these teachings is that the life and teachings of Christ and holy books of the gospel taken together form a complete map to salvation. But for this map to be used, it must be correctly read. A correct reading is attained through a correct understanding of scriptures and their messages. One of the fundamental activities has been the production, study and editing of biblical commentaries, traditionally written as illuminated interlinear manuscripts. Popular Thomasian study bibles typically contain abridged selections of the most popular and historically influential commentaries.

Ascetisim & Apatheia
The nature and root of sin in the Thomasine traditions are the bodily passions which it is held blind the soul and lead it to stray from the worship and contemplation of the perfect God, the highest state of perfection a soul can achieve. The moral and ethical teachings of the scripture, whether positive or negative, are understood by Thomasine's as providing guideposts for the renunciation of passions; to achieve a sinless life is to achieve apatheia and vice-versa. God it is believed does not truly punish anyone but sinners, being unable to turn away from worldly pleasures, are unable to turn themselves completely to god. Concordantly the ascetic life is held in particularly high esteem among Thomists, including extreme manifestations such as anchorites and stylites. An important subset of the Disciplina Arcani relates to teachings on correct ascetic practices.

Christ Exemplar & Pelagianism
According to Thomasian teachings, the crucifixion of Christ is best understood as an example of a perfect example of Christian obedience: Christ went to his death freely and willingly, trusting completely in his father; God offered his only son in the manner of a sacrifice out of love for mankind, so they may witness firsthand his love for them. Closely related to this doctrine is the Thomasine rejection of the doctrines of Original Sin, Depravity and Election. All humans it is taught have the potential to achieve salvation and through the Life, Death and Resurrection of Christ, the Holy Scriptures and Disciplina Arcana the tools needed to actualize that potential.