Over the years, I have often mused over Anglican Theology and whether there really is such a thing. In general, Anglicans have not been noted for developing a single consistent systematic/dogmatic theology. Of course, every thinking Christian is a practical theologian to some degree. In other words, we think about what we believe and why. However, there have been and still are diverse Anglican theologies.
Since the English Reformation, there have been three broad theological approaches among Anglicans. First, some Anglicans have focused more on the Reformation heritage with both Lutheran and Calvinist/Reformed influences. Scripture is the dominant value in this approach. In a general sense, this approach might be called Low Church or Evangelical, but it has had diverse expressions. While "evangelical" Anglicans have shared some basic loyalties, there have been some differences among Anglo-Lutherans, Anglo-Calvinists, and Anglo-Arminians.
Secondly, other Anglicans have emphasized aspects of Church tradition. This approach can be generally considered High Church or Anglo-Catholic, but it too has distinct sub-groups. Old High Church and Anglo-Catholic are not the same, and even Anglo-Catholicism has several strains. An issue for this Anglican approach has been what constitutes authentic Catholic tradition. Although valuing church tradition, high-church Anglicans have held differing opinions about Rome and medieval traditions.
A third Anglican approach has emphasized the role of human reason and has sometimes been considered broad church. At times, this broad church approach has interacted positively with evangelical and catholic tendencies. However, when an emphasis on human reason and experience has become overwhelming, Christian theology has tended to become weak. In particular, such weakness has manifested itself in recent decades. Increasingly, broad church Anglicanism has tended to become more nebulous. Rationalistic, humanistic, liberal, or progressive tendencies have often lost their connections with both Scripture and tradition. While Anglicans in general respect the role of reason, human-centered theology is a serious threat to living faith.
Although an Anglican may combine elements from all three of these theological approaches, one of the three is usually dominant. The historic dilemma for Anglicanism has been to hold the three approaches together in the same church body. In the twenty-first century, the point has been reached where it seems impossible to hold all the tendencies together. Merely reading news about the Anglican world illustrates this harsh reality. So do visits to parishes bearing the name Anglican (or Episcopal). One has little idea of what to expect. This has become true of the liturgy (or lack thereof). The lack of consensus has been even more true of doctrinal theology, moral theology, and preaching over a longer time.
The Anglican heritage embodied in the Books of Common Prayer is both beautiful and meaningful. The Prayer Book tradition is one of the jewels of Western culture and of the English language. However, despite the claims of some Anglicans, the Prayer Book by itself does not provide a complete or consistent theology. So, some theological standards are needed. Historically, Anglicanism has provided such standards through the Creeds, the Catechism, and the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion.
While the Articles of Religion are deliberately vague on some issues, they do provide a generally Protestant theological perspective. The Articles are consistent with Holy Scripture and the ancient church. Although not very precise on some points, they are compatible with moderate Lutheran, moderate Calvinist, and moderate Arminian views. When taken seriously, they are a bulwark against some of the perennial problems of Rome. The Articles mesh nicely with traditional Books of Common Prayer from 1549 through 1962. They are grounded in the "evangelical" Reformation emphases on the unique authority of Scripture, the primacy of divine grace, and justification by faith in Jesus Christ.
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