Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

[xiii.b] Christianity claims that its truth rests ultimately on a revelation from God through Jesus Christ, transmitted through scripture (Bible) and ‘tradition’ in the Church. The early church regarded ‘tradition’ as Christian belief centred in the Creeds of major church centres. For the Eastern orthodox church ‘tradition’ is the living authority of the church's whole life and teaching, which includes scripture. Roman catholicism sees Christian truth as contained in scripture and ‘tradition’. The Catholic church's developing understanding of both is promulgated infallibly as ‘dogma’ (doctrines binding on Catholics) through Councils and the Papacy [36]. The Council of Trent (1545–63) asserted that scripture and ‘tradition’ were to be received as of equal authority; but the Second Vatican Council (1962–5) appeared to minimize the distinction [1: 114–18]. Protestantism originally appealed to the Bible alone for authority, interpreted by individuals under the guidance of the Holy spirit. However, Confessions of Faith and church authority soon provided a fresh ‘tradition’. Christians have often claimed that reason can by itself discover some religious truths (Natural theology) as well as interpret revelation. Since the 18th century in the West reason has sometimes (e.g. Deism) seemed to overshadow church authority if not scripture, especially for Liberal protestantism. But Protestant ... log in or subscribe to read full text