Pelagius

This 5th century English monk crossed swords theologically and intellectually with the renowned champion of church orthodoxy, the Bishop of Hippo, Augustine. Pelagius believed, preached, and wrote that God does not predestine man to heaven or hell, that God does not choose whom He will damn or save, that God leaves the choice of our fate to ourselves. The Council of Epheses in the year 431 condemned his views as a heresy. Such was so often the fate of the independent thinkers of history.