The dispute between Augustine and Pelagius regarding God’s grace and free will stemmed from their differentiating views of the original sin of Adam and Eve. Pelagius believed that human nature was left unaffected by original sin . He could not see how infant children, generations later, would be burdened with a sin that they had no part in. Instead, according to Pelagius, children were born into life with total purity and innocence

Not surprisingly, many of those who knowingly commit sin are quick to develop excuses for their actions. Pelagius eventually became irate of the assortment of excuses he would hear: “It is hard!” “It is difficult!” “I am not able!” In particular, the excuse, “I am not able!” created outrage within Pelagius. He took this as a criticism of God, as the Creator, to beget men who were “insufficient for the keeping of His law.” He felt that “God could teach us the true way; God could set us a holy example; but God could not touch us to enable us to will the good.” Pelagius saw these conscious sinners as being insufficient within themselves; as they were expecting more from God than what was needed.

In a country of free speech, it is difficult to imagine how a person could be condemned on the basis of his beliefs. A natural question would be: What was it about Pelagius’ beliefs in regards to human free will and God’s grace that made Christianity condemn this man? Pelagius’ views were not mere inconsistencies with the teachings of the Church. In essence, Pelagius’ beliefs can be concluded as a denial for the necessity of God’s grace because he felt a man’s free will enabled him to be in total and absolute control of his own actions. Augustine’s rebuttal emphasized the importance of God’s grace throughout a man’s life. Augustine felt human free will was limiting, in respect to putting the desire for virtue into action, because what actually allowed man to reach virtue was God’s grace. Therefore, as Pelagius denied the need for God’s assistance, he ultimately denied the need for Christianity.

The basis of Augustine’s rebuttal to Pelagius’ views began with his opposing beliefs of original sin. Augustine argued that if children were born free of any sin, why were newborn infants baptized? He conclud

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