Conservative Christianity

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Conservative Christianity, also known as conservative theology, theological conservatism, traditional Christianity, [1] [2] or biblical orthodoxy [3] is a grouping of overlapping and denominationally diverse theological movements within Christianity that seeks to retain the orthodox and long-standing traditions and beliefs of Christianity. It is contrasted with Liberal Christianity and Progressive Christianity, which are seen as heretical heterodoxies by theological conservatives. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] Conservative Christianity should not be mistaken as being necessarily synonymous with the political philosophy of conservatism, nor the Christian right (which is a political movement of Christians who support conservative political ideologies and policies within the realm of secular or non-sectarian politics). [14] [15] [16] [2]

Contents

Theological conservatism is found in Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, Protestantism, the Church of the East, Old Catholicism, and throughout all of Mainstream-Nicene Christianity in both Western Christian and Eastern Christian traditions. [17] [18] [19] [20] Within Protestantism, it is largely made up of Evangelical Christianity and Christian Fundamentalism, while the Confessing Movement, Confessionalism, and to an extent Neo-orthodoxy make up the remaining; in Roman Catholicism it is inclusive of Catholics that adhere to Traditionalist Catholicism as well as the Magisterium, Scriptures, and Traditions of the Church at the exclusion of Catholic Modernism and Folk Catholicism; [21] and in Old Catholicism it currently includes the Union of Scranton, those of similar beliefs, and historically the Union of Utrecht until its adoption of theological liberalism. [7] [6] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] In spite of this, not every community has had a direct connection with the Fundamentalist–Modernist controversy.

Evangelical leaders like Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council have called attention to the problem of equating the term Christian right with theological conservatism and Evangelicalism. Although evangelicals constitute the core constituency of the Christian right within the United States, not all evangelicals fit that political description. The problem of describing the Christian right which in most cases is conflated with theological conservatism in secular media, is further complicated by the fact that the label religious conservative or conservative Christian applies to other Christian denominational religious groups who are theologically, socially, and culturally conservative but do not have overtly political organizations associated with them, which are usually uninvolved, uninterested, apathetic, or indifferent towards politics. [29] [30] Tim Keller, an Evangelical theologian and Presbyterian Church in America pastor, shows that Conservative Christianity (theology) predates the Christian right (politics), and that being a theological conservative didn't necessitate being a political conservative, that some political progressive views around economics, helping the poor, the redistribution of wealth, and racial diversity are compatible with theologically conservative Christianity. [31] [32] Rod Dreher, a senior editor for The American Conservative , a secular conservative magazine, also argues the same differences, even claiming that a "traditional Christian" a theological conservative, can simultaneously be left on economics (economic progressive) and even a socialist at that while maintaining traditional Christian beliefs. [2]

General beliefs

Moreover it went on to address philosophical concerns the presuppositions for the first time arguing beyond the creeds that philosophical positions were vital, "Since the Renaissance, and more particularly since the Enlightenment, world views have been developed that involve skepticism about basic Christian tenets. Such are the agnosticism that denies that God is knowable, the rationalism that denies that He is incomprehensible, the idealism that denies that He is transcendent, and the existentialism that denies rationality in His relationships with us. When these un- and anti-Biblical principles seep into men's theologies at a presuppositional level, as today they frequently do, faithful interpretation of Holy Scripture becomes impossible." [40]

Component movements

It may specifically refer to movements such as:

See also

Related Research Articles

Evangelicalism, also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that puts primary emphasis on evangelization. The word evangelic comes from the Greek word for 'good news'. The Gospel story of the salvation from sin is considered "the good news". The process of personal conversion involves complete surrender to Jesus Christ. The conversion process is authoritatively guided by the Bible, the God in Christianity's revelation to humanity. Critics of the conceptualization of evangelicalism argue that it is too broad, too diverse, or too ill-defined to be adequately seen as a movement or a single movement.

Christian fundamentalism, also known as fundamental Christianity or fundamentalist Christianity, is a religious movement emphasizing biblical literalism. In its modern form, it began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries among British and American Protestants as a reaction to theological liberalism and cultural modernism. Fundamentalists argued that 19th-century modernist theologians had misunderstood or rejected certain doctrines, especially biblical inerrancy, which they considered the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Integralism</span> Principle that the Catholic faith should be the basis of public law and policy

In politics, integralism, integrationism or integrism is an interpretation of Catholic social teaching that argues the principle that the Catholic faith should be the basis of public law and public policy within civil society, wherever the preponderance of Catholics within that society makes this possible. Integralism is anti-pluralist, seeking the Catholic faith to be dominant in civil and religious matters. Integralists uphold the 1864 definition of Pope Pius IX in Quanta cura that the religious neutrality of the civil power cannot be embraced as an ideal situation and the doctrine of Leo XIII in Immortale Dei on the religious obligations of states. In December 1965, the Second Vatican Council approved and Pope Paul VI promulgated the document Dignitatis humanae–the Council's "Declaration on Religious Freedom"–which states that it "leaves untouched traditional Catholic doctrine on the moral duty of men and societies toward the true religion and toward the one Church of Christ". However, they have simultaneously declared "that the human person has a right to religious freedom," a move that some traditionalist Catholics such as Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, the founder of the Society of St. Pius X, have argued is at odds with previous doctrinal pronouncements.

A Christian denomination is a distinct religious body within Christianity that comprises all church congregations of the same kind, identifiable by traits such as a name, particular history, organization, leadership, theological doctrine, worship style and, sometimes, a founder. It is a secular and neutral term, generally used to denote any established Christian church. Unlike a cult or sect, a denomination is usually seen as part of the Christian religious mainstream. Most Christian denominations refer to themselves as churches, whereas some newer ones tend to interchangeably use the terms churches, assemblies, fellowships, etc. Divisions between one group and another are defined by authority and doctrine; issues such as the nature of Jesus, the authority of apostolic succession, biblical hermeneutics, theology, ecclesiology, eschatology, and papal primacy may separate one denomination from another. Groups of denominations—often sharing broadly similar beliefs, practices, and historical ties—are sometimes known as "branches of Christianity". These branches differ in many ways, especially through differences in practices and belief.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Christian theology:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mainline Protestant</span> Older, more establishment Protestant denominations

The mainline Protestant churches are a group of Protestant denominations in the United States and Canada largely of the theologically liberal or theologically progressive persuasion that contrast in history and practice with the largely theologically conservative evangelical, fundamentalist, charismatic, confessional, Confessing Movement, historically Black church, and Global South Protestant denominations and congregations. Some make a distinction between "mainline" and "oldline", with the former referring only to denominational ties and the latter referring to church lineage, prestige and influence. However, this distinction has largely been lost to history and the terms are now nearly synonymous.

In Christianity, Neo-orthodoxy or Neoorthodoxy, also known as theology of crisis and dialectical theology, was a theological movement developed in the aftermath of the First World War. The movement was largely a reaction against doctrines of 19th century liberal theology and a reevaluation of the teachings of the Reformation. Karl Barth is the leading figure associated with the movement. In the U.S., Reinhold Niebuhr was a leading exponent of neo-orthodoxy. It is unrelated to Eastern Orthodoxy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progressive Christianity</span> Postmodern theological approach

Progressive Christianity represents a postmodern theological approach, which developed out of the liberal Christianity of the modern era, itself rooted in the Enlightenment's thinking. Progressive Christianity is a postliberal theological movement within Christianity that, in the words of Reverend Roger Wolsey, "seeks to reform the faith via the insights of post-modernism and a reclaiming of the truth beyond the verifiable historicity and factuality of the passages in the Bible by affirming the truths within the stories that may not have actually happened."

Liberal Christianity, also known as liberal theology and historically as Christian Modernism, is a movement that interprets Christian teaching by prioritizing modern knowledge, science and ethics. It emphasizes the importance of reason and experience over doctrinal authority. Liberal Christians view their theology as an alternative to both atheistic rationalism and theologies based on traditional interpretations of external authority, such as the Bible or sacred tradition.

Postliberal theology is a Christian theological movement that focuses on a narrative presentation of the Christian faith as regulative for the development of a coherent systematic theology. Thus, Christianity is an overarching story, with its own embedded culture, grammar, and practices, which can be understood only with reference to Christianity's own internal logic.

Biblical literalism or biblicism is a term used differently by different authors concerning biblical interpretation. It can equate to the dictionary definition of literalism: "adherence to the exact letter or the literal sense", where literal means "in accordance with, involving, or being the primary or strict meaning of the word or words; not figurative or metaphorical".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fundamentalist–modernist controversy</span> Christian religious issue

The fundamentalist–modernist controversy is a major schism that originated in the 1920s and 1930s within the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. At issue were foundational disputes about the role of Christianity; the authority of the Bible; and the death, resurrection, and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Two broad factions within Protestantism emerged: fundamentalists, who insisted upon the timeless validity of each doctrine of Christian orthodoxy; and modernists, who advocated a conscious adaptation of the Christian faith in response to the new scientific discoveries and moral pressures of the age. At first, the schism was limited to Reformed churches and centered around the Princeton Theological Seminary, whose fundamentalist faculty members founded Westminster Theological Seminary when Princeton went in a liberal direction. However, it soon spread, affecting nearly every Protestant denomination in the United States. Denominations that were not initially affected, such as the Lutheran churches, eventually were embroiled in the controversy, leading to a schism in the United States.

Bibliolatry is the worship of a book, idolatrous homage to a book, or the deifying of a book. It is a form of idolatry. The sacred texts of some religions disallow icon worship, but over time, the texts themselves may come to be treated as sacred in the way idols are; believers may end up worshipping the book in effect. Bibliolatry extends claims of Biblical inerrancy to the texts, precluding theological innovation, evolving development, or progress. Bibliolatry can lead to revivalism, disallows reprobation, and can lead to persecution of unpopular doctrines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in the United States</span>

Christianity is the prevalent religion in the United States. A recent Gallup survey from 2023 indicates that of the entire U.S. population about 67% is Christian. The majority of Christian Americans are Protestant Christians, though there are also significant numbers of American Roman Catholics and other Christian denominations such as Latter Day Saints, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Oriental Orthodox Christians, and Jehovah's Witnesses. The United States has the largest Christian population in the world and, more specifically, the largest Protestant population in the world, with nearly 210 million Christians and, as of 2021, over 140 million people affiliated with Protestant churches, although other countries have higher percentages of Christians among their populations. The Public Religion Research Institute's "2020 Census of American Religion", carried out between 2014 and 2020, showed that 70% of Americans identified as Christian during this seven-year interval. In a 2020 survey by the Pew Research Center, 65% of adults in the United States identified themselves as Christians. They were 75% in 2015, 70.6% in 2014, 78% in 2012, 81.6% in 2001, and 85% in 1990. About 62% of those polled claim to be members of a church congregation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mormonism and Nicene Christianity</span> Comparison of Mormonism and Nicene Christianity

Mormonism and Nicene Christianity have a complex theological, historical, and sociological relationship. Mormons express their doctrines using biblical terminology. They have similar views about the nature of Jesus Christ's atonement, bodily resurrection, and Second Coming as mainstream Christians. Nevertheless, most Mormons do not accept the doctrine of the Trinity as codified in the Nicene Creed of 325 and the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed of 381. Although Mormons consider the Protestant Bible to be holy scripture, they do not believe in biblical inerrancy. They have also adopted additional scriptures that they believe to have been divinely revealed to Joseph Smith, including the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Mormons practice baptism and celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, but they also participate in other religious rituals. Mormons self-identify as Christians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evangelicalism in the United States</span>

In the United States, evangelicalism is a movement among Protestant Christians who believe in the necessity of being born again, emphasize the importance of evangelism, and affirm traditional Protestant teachings on the authority as well as the historicity of the Bible. Comprising nearly a quarter of the U.S. population, evangelicals are a diverse group drawn from a variety of denominational backgrounds, including nondenominational churches, Pentecostal, Baptist, Lutheran, Reformed, Methodist, Mennonite, Plymouth Brethren, Quaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Political influence of Evangelicalism in Latin America</span>

Marginal at first, news reports and political analysts have pointed the important weight that the Evangelical Christian community has and its impact in electoral politics in Latin America, even helping in the electoral victories of conservative candidates.

Moderate Christianity is a theological movement in Christianity that seeks to make decisions based on spiritual wisdom.

References

  1. ↑ "Progressing Spirit : Why Traditional Christianity Must Die". Progressing Spirit. 4 October 2018. Archived from the original on 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  2. 1 2 3 Dreher, Rod (2014-07-24). "What Is 'Traditional Christianity,' Anyway?". The American Conservative. Archived from the original on 2023-03-06. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  3. ↑ "Biblical Orthodoxy". Trinity International University. Archived from the original on 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  4. ↑ "What Do Christians Mean When They Use the Word "Conservative"?". The Good Book Blog - Biola University Blogs. 18 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  5. ↑ Sinclair, George (8 April 2019). ""Conservative" And "Liberal" Christianity". The Gospel Coalition | Canada. Archived from the original on 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  6. 1 2 Pinnock, Clark H. (5 January 1979). "An Evangelical Theology: Conservative and Contemporary". ChristianityToday.com. Archived from the original on 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  7. 1 2 Waldman, Steve; Green, John C. (April 29, 2004). "Evangelicals v. Fundamentalists". pbs.org/wgbh. Frontline: The Jesus Factor. Boston: PBS/WGBH. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  8. ↑ Ryrie, Charles C. The Grace of God. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1963), pp. 10–11.
  9. ↑ Dorrien, Gary (2002). "The Making of American Liberal Theology; Imagining Progressive Religion 1805-1900". Pro Ecclesia: A Journal of Catholic and Evangelical Theology. 11 (4): 496–497. doi:10.1177/106385120201100411. ISSN   1063-8512. S2CID   220284807. Archived from the original on 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  10. ↑ Dorrien, Gary J. (2001–2006). The making of American liberal theology (1st ed.). Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN   0-664-22354-0. OCLC   48542292. Archived from the original on 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  11. ↑ DeYoung, Kevin (4 March 2011). "The Making of American Liberal Theology". The Gospel Coalition. Archived from the original on 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  12. ↑ Merriam; Webster. "Neoorthodoxy". Dictionary (online ed.). Archived from the original on 2023-03-06. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  13. ↑ Brown, Robert McAfee (1986). "Introduction", The Essential Reinhold Niebuhr: Selected Essays and Addresses, Yale University Press, pp. xv-xvi. Archived 2023-05-29 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  14. ↑ "Conservative Christianity after the Christian Right". Faith Angle Forum. Archived from the original on 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  15. ↑ Coleman, Creighton (2017-01-23). "Can the Religious Right be Left? Christian Political Organizing in the Age of President Trump". Conciliar Post. Archived from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  16. ↑ Barclay Key, Black Fundamentalists: Conservative Christianity and Racial Identity in the Segregation Era, Journal of American History, Volume 109, Issue 2, September 2022, Pages 458–459, https://doi.org/10.1093/jahist/jaac302 Archived 2023-01-17 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ↑ Hoffacker, Jayna C. (2010-08-18). "Catholicism and Community: American Political Culture and the. Conservative Catholic Social Justice Tradition, 1890-1960". Georgia State University. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  18. 1 2 ""Catholic Theological Resources | Scott Hahn"". Archived from the original on July 6, 2016.
  19. ↑ Dragani, Anthony (2014-06-30). "6. Eastern Christian Theology and Faith Ii". Adrian Fortescue and the Eastern Christian Churches. Gorgias Press. pp. 137–156. doi:10.31826/9781463236410-008. ISBN   978-1-4632-3641-0. Archived from the original on 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  20. ↑ James R., Lewis (1998). "Old Catholic Movement". The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions (1st ed.). United States: Prometheus Books. p. 367. ISBN   1-57392-222-6.
  21. ↑ Rock, Stella (2007). Popular religion in Russia. Routledge ISBN   0-415-31771-1, p. 11. Last accessed July 2009.
  22. ↑ Roger E. Olson, The Westminster Handbook to Evangelical Theology, Westminster John Knox Press, USA, 2004, p. 172
  23. ↑ Peter Beyer, Religion in the Process of Globalization, Ergon, Germany, 2001, p. 261
  24. ↑ Eric C. Miller, The Political Legacy of Progressive Evangelicals Archived April 11, 2021, at the Wayback Machine , religionandpolitics.org, USA, October 27, 2015 : "In relative terms, these characteristics and their usual adherence to traditionally orthodox doctrines do make evangelicals more theologically conservative than liberal Protestants".
  25. ↑ Sweetnam, Mark S (2010), "Defining Dispensationalism: A Cultural Studies Perspective", Journal of Religious History, 34 (2): 191–212, doi:10.1111/j.1467-9809.2010.00862.x .
  26. ↑ "Progress of Redemption – Buck Hatch Library". buckhatchlibrary.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  27. 1 2 Bishops of the Polish National Catholic Church (2008-04-28). Written at Lancaster, NY. "The Declaration of Scranton: a profession of faith and declaration" (PDF). theunionofscranton.org. Scranton, PA: Union of Scranton. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  28. 1 2 Polish National Catholic Church. General Synod (October 2010). "The Declaration of Scranton: official commentary" (PDF). theunionofscranton.org. Union of Scranton. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  29. ↑ Deckman, Melissa Marie (2004). School Board Battles: The Christian Right in Local Politics . Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press. p.  48. ISBN   9781589010017 . Retrieved April 10, 2014. More than half of all Christian right candidates attend evangelical Protestant churches, which are more theologically liberal. A relatively large number of Christian Right candidates (24 percent) are Catholics; however, when asked to describe themselves as either "progressive/liberal" or "traditional/conservative" Catholics, 88 percent of these Christian right candidates place themselves in the traditional category.
  30. ↑ Joireman, Sandra F. (2009). "Anabaptism and the State: An Uneasy Coexistence". In Joireman, Sandra F. (ed.). Church, State, and Citizen: Christian Approaches to Political Engagement. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 73–91. ISBN   978-0-19-537845-0. LCCN   2008038533. S2CID   153268965. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Dr. Timothy Keller at the March 2013 Faith Angle Forum". Ethics & Public Policy Center. Archived from the original on 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  32. ↑ "Doctrine and Race: African American Evangelicals and Fundamentalism between the Wars". The Gospel Coalition. Archived from the original on 2023-03-06. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  33. ↑ "Content On: Apologetics | Bible.org". www.bible.org. Archived from the original on 2023-01-18. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  34. ↑ Walter A. Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Baker Academic, USA, 2001, pp. 370, 778
  35. ↑ Sébastien Fath, Du ghetto au réseau: Le protestantisme évangélique en France, 1800-2005, Édition Labor et Fides, Genève, 2005, p. 28
  36. ↑ James Innell Packer, Thomas C. Oden, One Faith: The Evangelical Consensus, InterVarsity Press, USA, 2004, p. 104
  37. ↑ Franck Poiraud, Les évangéliques dans la France du XXIe siècle, Editions Edilivre, France, 2007, p. 69, 73, 75
  38. ↑ George Thomas Kurian, Mark A. Lamport, Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, Volume 5, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2016, p. 1069
  39. ↑ Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition, Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 212
  40. ↑ "Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy - Wikisource, the free online library". en.wikisource.org. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  41. ↑ Sherwood, Harriet (13 August 2016). "As traditional believers turn away, is this a new crisis of faith?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2021. Conservative evangelicals are biblical fundamentalists
  42. ↑ Sherwood, Harriet (13 August 2016). "As Traditional Believers Turn Away, Is This a New Crisis of Faith?". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  43. ↑ Hill, Brennan; Knitter, Paul F.; Madges, William (1997). Faith, Religion & Theology: A Contemporary Introduction. Twenty-Third Publications. p. 326. ISBN   978-0-89622-725-5. Archived from the original on 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-01-18. Catholic fundamentalists, like their Protestant counterparts, fear that the church has abandoned the unchanging truth of past tradition for the evolving speculations of modern theology. They fear that Christian societies have replaced systems of absolute moral norms with subjective decision making and relativism. Like Protestant fundamentalists, Catholic fundamentalists propose a worldview that is rigorous and clear cut.
  44. ↑ "Definition of MAGISTERIUM". www.merriam-webster.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  45. ↑ "What Is the Magisterium? | Thomas Storck | IgnatiusInsight.com". www.ignatiusinsight.com. Archived from the original on 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  46. ↑ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 85 Archived 2023-06-21 at the Wayback Machine )
  47. ↑ "Dei verbum". www.vatican.va. Archived from the original on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  48. ↑ "Catechism of the Catholic Church - IntraText". www.vatican.va. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
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