diaphoristic

[Gr. ἀδιάφορος ( αλία phoros) not different, indifferent: à priv.; διάφορος ( diaphoros ) = different.] [DIFFER.] Ch. Hist.: Pertaining to things indifferent, or looked upon as not worth disputing about. The term was introduced to designate an ecclesiastical controversy which broke out in the year 1548. The Emperor Charles V. having i ued a paper, popularly called the Interim, in which he prescribed what faith and practice the Protestants were to adopt till the Council of Trent should dictate a permanent form of belief and worship, Maurice, Elector of Saxony, urged Me lanch thon and his friends to decide what portions of the document they would accept and follow Me lanch thon, whose temperament was timid, and whose spirit was eminently conciliatory, proposed to go very far in the direction prescribed. Regarding many doctrines and practices in dispute between the antagonistic churches of Rome and Wittenberg as adia phoristic -that is, as pertaining to matters indifferent-he considered that, for the sake of peace and harmony, the Emperor might be permitted to have his own way with regard to them, and that, to a very large extent, the Interim might be accepted and obeyed. Luther had died two years previously, but his followers, being specially irritated to find, the doctrine of justification by faith figuring among the things adiaphoristic , refused to join in the great conce ions proposed. A controversy in consequence arose between the followers of Luther and those of Me lanch thon. It was called the adiaphoristic controversy, and embraced two questions: (1) What things were indifferent; and (2) whether, with regard to things indifferent, the emperor could or could not, in conscience, be obeyed. (Mosheim: Ch. Hist .) A-di-aph-or-ists, A-di-aph-or-ītes, s. pl. [In Ger. Adiaphoristen.] Ch. Hist. Those who sided with Me lanch thon in the Adiaphoristic controversy already described.