INFALAPSARIAN

1 definition found

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:

  INFALAPSARIAN, n.  One who ventures to believe that Adam need not have
  sinned unless he had a mind to -- in opposition to the
  Supralapsarians, who hold that that luckless person's fall was decreed
  from the beginning.  Infralapsarians are sometimes called
  Sublapsarians without material effect upon the importance and lucidity
  of their views about Adam.


  
      Two theologues once, as they wended their way
      To chapel, engaged in colloquial fray --
      An earnest logomachy, bitter as gall,
      Concerning poor Adam and what made him fall.
      "'Twas Predestination," cried one -- "for the Lord
      Decreed he should fall of his own accord."
      "Not so -- 'twas Free will," the other maintained,
      "Which led him to choose what the Lord had ordained."
      So fierce and so fiery grew the debate
      That nothing but bloodshed their dudgeon could sate;
      So off flew their cassocks and caps to the ground
      And, moved by the spirit, their hands went round.
      Ere either had proved his theology right
      By winning, or even beginning, the fight,
      A gray old professor of Latin came by,
      A staff in his hand and a scowl in his eye,
      And learning the cause of their quarrel (for still
      As they clumsily sparred they disputed with skill
      Of foreordination freedom of will)
      Cried:  "Sirrahs! this reasonless warfare compose:
      Atwixt ye's no difference worthy of blows.
      The sects ye belong to -- I'm ready to swear
      Ye wrongly interpret the names that they bear.
      _You_ -- Infralapsarian son of a clown! --
      Should only contend that Adam slipped down;
      While _you_ -- you Supralapsarian pup! --
      Should nothing aver but that Adam slipped up.
      It's all the same whether up or down
      You slip on a peel of banana brown.
      Even Adam analyzed not his blunder,
      But thought he had slipped on a peal of thunder!
                                                                    G.J.