Definition: Applanatism, also known as apianism, is a doctrine that states that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience alone. This means that every individual's perception of the world is unique, independent of previous experiences or beliefs, and therefore not derived from any external sources. It reflects a view that the universe is inherently chaotic and unpredictable, and that human understanding is limited by our limited perceptions and cannot be fully understood without direct access to God or the divine. Applanatists hold that knowledge should come from the experience of God as seen through sensory perception rather than from knowledge gained through external means such as reason, science, or religion. Their belief in a literal creation story that began with Adam and Eve on Earth before being lost by a flood is often cited as evidence of this view. Applanatists typically reject both naturalistic scientific explanations for the origins of the universe (God) and the Christian belief in an afterlife or resurrection (Christians). Instead, they assert a mystical experience where God speaks to humans directly and through angels. They also believe that certain religious concepts (such as the Holy Trinity) are more real than other human knowledge. Applanatism is one of several heretical beliefs associated with early Christian thought, which later diverged into multiple schools including Arianism, Anselmism, and the Gnostics.

aplanatism