Adamites

The Adamites, sometimes referred to as "Adamians", were a radical religious group that emerged in various periods of church history, often advocating for extreme interpretations of Christian doctrine, particularly around the idea of returning to the innocence of Adam before the fall.

Who Were the Adamites?

The Adamites were a sect that appeared in several different periods and regions, most notably during:

1. Early Christian Period (2nd–5th centuries):

   • The earliest references to Adamites come from church fathers like Epiphanius of Salamis and Augustine of Hippo, who wrote about heretical groups that sought to live as though they had returned to the state of innocence enjoyed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before the Fall. This group often practiced nudity during worship, claiming that they were freed from sin and could live as Adam and Eve had before they became aware of their nakedness.
   • The Adamites also rejected marriage, viewing it as a post-fall institution. They claimed to have no need for laws, religious rites, or sacraments, because they believed they had already attained the pre-fall state of spiritual perfection.

2. Medieval Period:

   • A version of the Adamite movement appeared again during the medieval era within some Gnostic and Manichaean groups. These sects also practiced nudity and rejected the normal structures of society, claiming to live a life of purity that mirrored the innocence of Adam before sin entered the world.

3. Bohemian Adamites (15th century):

   • The most significant reappearance of Adamite theology occurred during the Hussite Wars in Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic) in the early 15th century. This group, associated with the Taborites, became known for rejecting societal laws and ecclesiastical authority. They practiced communal living, and like their early predecessors, they emphasized a return to the state of Adam’s innocence by rejecting clothing and sometimes living in nudist colonies.
   • They rejected sacraments, church hierarchy, and all civil authority, believing that they lived in a kind of eschatological age where laws were no longer necessary. Their radical views and practices made them enemies of both the Roman Catholic Church and the Hussite mainstream. They were persecuted and eventually wiped out by both religious and political authorities.

Theological Beliefs of the Adamites

1. Return to Adamic Innocence:

   • The central belief of the Adamites was that they could, through their practices, return to the state of innocence and purity that Adam and Eve enjoyed before the Fall. This was most dramatically symbolized in their practice of nudity, which they claimed reflected their innocence and freedom from sin.

2. Rejection of Sacraments and Church Authority:

   • Adamites typically rejected the sacraments, arguing that they had no need for such external rites because they were living in spiritual perfection. They also rejected the institutional church, including both Catholic and Protestant structures, and viewed themselves as the true Church, free from the corruptions of organized religion.

3. Antinomianism:

   • The Adamites often embraced an antinomian lifestyle, rejecting all moral laws and social norms. Because they believed they were living in a state of pre-fall innocence, they felt they were no longer subject to the moral law or any form of civil authority. This led to accusations of immorality and anarchism from both religious and political authorities.

4. Eschatological Expectations:

   • In some cases, the Adamites believed they were living in an eschatological era, in which the old world of sin and law was passing away and being replaced by a new world where human beings could live as Adam did in the Garden of Eden.

Why the Adamites Are Considered Heretical

The Adamites were considered heretical for several reasons, based on historic Christian orthodoxy:

1. Distortion of the Doctrine of Sin:

   • Christian orthodoxy teaches that all human beings are born with a sinful nature due to the Fall of Adam (Romans 5:12-19), and that only through faith in Christ and participation in the sacraments (such as baptism and the Eucharist) can one be restored to right relationship with God. The Adamites’ claim that they had returned to Adamic innocence and were no longer bound by the moral law was considered a clear rejection of the doctrine of original sin and the need for redemption through Christ.

2. Rejection of the Sacraments:

   • The Adamites' rejection of the sacraments and church authority was viewed as a direct attack on the means of grace established by Christ. In Christian orthodoxy, the sacraments are understood to be channels of God's grace, necessary for the Christian life (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20). The Adamites' denial of this led to their condemnation by both Catholic and Protestant authorities.

3. Antinomianism and Moral Laxity:

   • The Adamites’ rejection of moral law was seen as antinomianism, which means "against the law." The New Testament teaches that Christians, though saved by grace, are still called to live holy lives and uphold God’s moral law (Romans 6:1-2; James 2:17). The Adamites' disregard for societal norms and their claims of living above the law led to accusations of immorality and lawlessness, both in personal conduct and in relation to civil authorities.

4. Nudity as a Rejection of Modesty:

   • The Adamites' practice of nudity as a symbol of their "innocence" was seen as a rejection of the biblical teaching on modesty and decency (1 Timothy 2:9). The church historically viewed their extreme practices as a misunderstanding of the nature of the Fall and the purpose of redemption. The nakedness of Adam and Eve before the Fall was a unique state that cannot be recaptured in this life, except through resurrection and glorification (1 Corinthians 15:42-49).

5. Rejection of Church Authority:

   • The Adamites rejected both the authority of the institutional church and civil government, seeing themselves as free from all earthly authorities. This anarchistic tendency made them enemies of both religious and political institutions, and their rejection of spiritual oversight was viewed as schismatic and rebellious.

The Historic Christian Orthodox View

In contrast to the Adamites, historic Christian orthodoxy teaches that:

1. Humanity Remains Fallen:

   • After the Fall, human beings cannot return to the innocence of Adam without the grace of Christ. The effects of original sin remain until Christ’s return and the resurrection of the dead. Redemption from sin comes only through Christ's atoning work on the cross and the means of grace provided through the church and the sacraments (Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22).

2. The Role of the Church and Sacraments:

   • The church is the body of Christ, and Christ instituted the sacraments (baptism and the Eucharist) as a means of grace for salvation (Matthew 28:19; John 6:53-56). These are necessary for spiritual growth and communion with God. Rejection of the sacraments and the authority of the church is seen as a rejection of Christ’s plan for His people.

3. Christian Ethics and Moral Law:

   • Christianity teaches that believers are called to live according to God’s moral law, even though they are saved by grace through faith. The law provides a guide for living a holy life (Romans 6:15-18). Christians are not free to live lawlessly but are to grow in holiness as they follow Christ (1 Peter 1:15-16).

4. Modesty and the Human Body:

   • The human body is good, but the effects of the Fall mean that modesty and decency are part of living in a fallen world. The glorification of the body will come at the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15), but until then, Christians are called to modesty and honor in their conduct and appearance.

Conclusion

The Adamites were considered a heretical group due to their radical rejection of traditional Christian doctrines concerning the fall of humanity, the means of grace, and the role of the church. Their belief in a return to the innocence of Adam, their antinomianism, and their rejection of church authority and the sacraments placed them outside of the boundaries of orthodox Christian belief. Their practices and teachings were condemned by the church throughout history as a serious deviation from the biblical understanding of sin, grace, and Christian ethics.