Council of Soissons

1121. This was called to deal with the writings of Peter Abelard,* particularly with the heretical tendencies in his Sic et Non. The charge of heresy resulted from Abelard's insistence on applying reason or logic to the doctrine of the Trinity. How heretical this work was is not entirely clear, but it gave the impression that the Fathers of the Church were in great disagreement over important doctrines. The root of the problem lay in his insistence that unless we understand we cannot believe. The council forced him to retract his position, and ordered his book to be burned.