REMONSTRANTS, the name given to those Dutch Protes tants who, after the death of Arminius (q.v.), maintained the views associated with his name, and in 1610 presented to the states of Holland and Friesland a "remonstrance" in five articles formulating their points of departure from stricter Calvinism. These were: (I) that the divine decree of predestination is conditional, not absolute; (2) that the Atonement is in intention universal; (3) that man cannot of himself exercise a saving faith; (4) that though the grace of God is a necessary condition of human effort it does not act irresistibly in man; (5) that believers are able to resist sin but are not beyond the possibility of falling from grace. The Remonstrants were assailed both by personal enemies and by the political weapons of Maurice of Orange, who executed and imprisoned their leaders for holding republican views. In 1618-19 the synod of Dort (see DORT, SYNOD OF),
from which the thirteen Arminian pastors headed by Simon Episcopius (q.v.) were shut out, established the victory of the Calvinist school. The judgment of the synod was enforced by the deposition and in some cases the banishment of Remonstrant ministers; but the government soon became convinced that their party was not dangerous to the state, and in 1630 they were formally allowed liberty to reside in afl parts of Holland and build churches and schools. Henceforth, however, their impor tance was more theological than ecclesiastical; and their liberal school of theology, which naturally grew more liberal and even rationalistic, has reacted powerfully on the state church and on other Christian denominations.