عنوان

Tradition and Modernity in Protestant Christianity

Number

LA115082

.Language of Text, Soundtrack etc

انگلیسی

Title Proper

Tradition and Modernity in Protestant Christianity

General Material Designation

[Article]

First Statement of Responsibility

Alan Davies

Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.

Leiden

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Brill

Text of Note

Protestantism, a relatively late form of Christianity, accepts the principle of sola scriptura as its essence. For the early reformers this was a creative principle, but for subsequent generations it often became a sterile orthodoxy, producing theological and moral rigidity. Hence a tension developed between biblical literalism and the claims of modernity, including the rise of higher criticism. What is the true meaning of biblical authority in light of a rapidly changing world? What are its implications for the Christian lifestyle? Calvinism in particular concerned itself with the latter question, infusing a strain of asceticism into the social order through its distinctive religious ethic. The later puritan extension of Calvinism left an indelible mark on western society. Sometimes the puritan influence degenerated into a narrow legalism; sometimes it produced a deep and genuine godliness. Sola scriptura can have both effects - this is the paradox of Protestantism. At its most profound, Protestantism represents a creative iconoclasm. This is its genius and enduring strength. Protestantism, a relatively late form of Christianity, accepts the principle of sola scriptura as its essence. For the early reformers this was a creative principle, but for subsequent generations it often became a sterile orthodoxy, producing theological and moral rigidity. Hence a tension developed between biblical literalism and the claims of modernity, including the rise of higher criticism. What is the true meaning of biblical authority in light of a rapidly changing world? What are its implications for the Christian lifestyle? Calvinism in particular concerned itself with the latter question, infusing a strain of asceticism into the social order through its distinctive religious ethic. The later puritan extension of Calvinism left an indelible mark on western society. Sometimes the puritan influence degenerated into a narrow legalism; sometimes it produced a deep and genuine godliness. Sola scriptura can have both effects - this is the paradox of Protestantism. At its most profound, Protestantism represents a creative iconoclasm. This is its genius and enduring strength.

Date of Publication

1999

Physical description

19-32

Title

Journal of Asian and African Studies

Volume Number

34/1

International Standard Serial Number

1568-5217

Alan Davies

Call Number

10.1163/156852199X00149

Electronic name

p

[Article]

275578

a

Y