Form of 17th-century Christian belief which
rejects such traditional doctrines as the
Trinity and original sin, named after
Socinus, the Latinized name of Lelio
Francesco Maria Sozzini (1525-62), Italian
Protestant theologian. It is an early form of
Unitarianism. His views on the nature of
Christ were developed by his nephew, Fausto
Paolo Sozzini (1539-1604), who also taught
pacifist and anarchist doctrines akin to
Tolstoy's. Socinianism denies the divinity of
Jesus but emphasizes his virtues.