The Rogatists were a religious movement within

early Christianity Early Christianity (up to the First Council of Nicaea in 325) spread from the Levant, across the Roman Empire, and beyond. Originally, this progression was closely connected to already established Jewish centers in the Holy Land and the Je ...

that separated in the

4th century The 4th century (per the Julian calendar and Anno Domini/Common era) was the time period which lasted from 301 ( CCCI) through 400 ( CD). In the West, the early part of the century was shaped by Constantine the Great, who became the first Roman ...

from the

Donatists Donatism was a Christian sect leading to a schism in the Church, in the region of the Church of Carthage, from the fourth to the sixth centuries. Donatists argued that Christian clergy must be faultless for their ministry to be effective and the ...

over the use of violence in the church. Much of what we know about the Rogatists comes from the writings of Augustine, against both them and the Donatists. Rogatus, Donatist Bishop of

Cartenna Cartennae or Cartenna.. was an ancient Berbers, Berber, Carthaginian Empire, Carthaginian, and Roman Empire, Roman port at present-day Ténès, Algeria. Under the Romans, it was part of the Roman province, province of Mauretania Caesariensis. ...

, in

Mauretania Caesariensis Mauretania Caesariensis (Latin for " Caesarean Mauretania") was a Roman province located in what is now Algeria in the Maghreb. The full name refers to its capital Caesarea Mauretaniae (modern Cherchell). The province had been part of the Ki ...

established a new sect, modifying Donatist ideas, for a less extreme and

Pacifist Pacifism is the opposition or resistance to war, militarism (including conscription and mandatory military service) or violence. Pacifists generally reject theories of Just War. The word ''pacifism'' was coined by the French peace campaig ...

formate. His followers were denominated Rogatists, after him Rogatus was replaced by Vincentius.

Beliefs

The schism in the Donatist church in the 360s arose over the use of violence in the church with the Rogatists claiming, "No one should be compelled to follow righteousness."

Augustine Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Af ...

countered saying that he too had thought that way but was convinced of the need for compulsion by the success of the imperial laws, and that Vincentius would use force if he had the power to do so. Augustine tried to show from the scripture that the use of force could be shown. Augustine also wrote that the Donatists returned to the Catholic church with "thanks they would not be offering willingly, had they not first, even against their will been severed from that impious association", arguing a familiar line that coercion was beneficial for the recipient. Later Augustine wrote ''The nature and origin of the Soul'' to address the teachings of

Vincent Victor Vincent ( la, Vincentius) is a male given name derived from the Roman name Vincentius, which is derived from the Latin word (''to conquer''). People with the given name Artists * Vincent Apap (1909–2003), Maltese sculptor * Vincent van Gog ...

, a Rogatist disciple of Vincentius. In 407 Vincent Victor had written to

appealing to him to not persecute the Rogatist congregations. Augustine wrote back

... you certainly seem to us less fierce, since you do not run wild in savage bands of Circumcellions, but no wild animal is called tame if it injures no one because it lacks
teeth A tooth ( : teeth) is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores and omnivores, also use teeth to help with capturing or wounding prey, te ...
or
claw A claw is a curved, pointed appendage found at the end of a toe or finger in most amniotes (mammals, reptiles, birds). Some invertebrates such as beetles and spiders have somewhat similar fine, hooked structures at the end of the leg or tars ...
s. You say you do not want to act savagely; I suspect that you cannot...

He also cited that the Rogatists had sought court action for return of their churches seized by

Donatist Donatism was a Christian sect leading to a schism in the Church, in the region of the Church of Carthage, from the fourth to the sixth centuries. Donatists argued that Christian clergy must be faultless for their ministry to be effective and the ...

s, to which Vincent Victor replied they were only seeking return of their goods and "''not'' ''to accuse someone in order that he might be coerced''" into conversion. Their key tenets of belief were *a commitment to absolute

pacificism Pacificism is the general term for ethical opposition to violence or war unless force is deemed necessary. Together with pacifism, it is born from the Western tradition or attitude that calls for peace. The former involves the unconditional refu ...

*a commitment to sacramental and personal purity.Jesse Hoover, The Contours of Donatism (ProQuest, 2008 ) p270

References

{{reflist, 2 Schisms in Christianity Christian denominations established in the 3rd century History of Christianity in North Africa Mauretania Caesariensis 4th-century Christianity 5th-century Christianity Christian denominations established in the 4th century