Conservative Christianity Explained

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]}

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.^{[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

• "Higher" view of scripture being the authoritative "Word" of God. A belief in the authority of the Bible as God's revelation to humanity. Bible prophecy and Bible inerrancy are often affirmed, some may take it further and believe in biblical literalism, while other may hold views of biblical infallibility. This often includes the understanding that the Bible in it original manuscripts, is the final authority in all matters on which it speaks or on matters of faith and religion.^{[33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39]}
• The Virgin birth of Jesus Christ.
• The doctrine of Trinity, i.e., God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
• The doctrine of the deity of Jesus Christ (i.e., that Jesus is fully God and fully man).
• The literal, physical resurrection of Jesus.
• The literal, physical return of Jesus.
• The belief in both a literal Heaven and a literal Hell as biblically described (purgatory may be added in for Catholics although not accepted by others),
• The doctrine of original sin is held by theological conservatism.
• Among Theological Conservative Christians overall, the resurrection of Christ is seen as the most important actual event in the history of the world.
  • For Theological Conservative Protestant Christians specifically, they place a central focus on Christ's redeeming work on the cross as the only means for salvation and the forgiveness of sins.'
• Theological Conservative Christians take to be true biblical teachings such as Jesus’ statement: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).'

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:

• Christian fundamentalism, a movement within Protestantism upholding biblical literalism.
• Evangelicalism, worldwide interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "born again" in which an individual experiences personal conversion as well as the biblical inerrancy.
  • Conservative evangelicalism in the United Kingdom, a theological movement within evangelical Protestant Christianity^{[41] [42]}
• The Confessing Movement, an evangelical and/or confessional movement within several mainline Protestant denominations
• A few scholars label Roman Catholics who reject Liberal Christianity, Progressive Christianity, and Catholic Modernism in favor of more traditional doctrines as fundamentalists.^[43]
  • Catholics who are faithful to the teachings of the Magisterium (the teaching authority of the Catholic Church) as well as the Scriptures and Traditions of the Church, can be considered theological conservatives in certain respects (if conservative means "according to the central moral and theological teachings historically accepted by the majority of Christendom [Christianity]")^{[44] [45] [46] [47] [48]}
  • The Traditionalist Catholic movement, Roman Catholics who believe that the Catholic Church has strayed from its doctrine since the Second Vatican Council.
• The Union of Scranton within the Old Catholic Church.
• Confessionalism (religion), a belief in the importance of full and unambiguous assent to the whole of a religious teaching
  • Confessional Lutheranism, a designation for Lutherans or Lutheran groups who believe in the doctrines taught in the Book of Concord of 1580, which is a summary of the teachings found in Scripture, requires attention to how that faith is actually being preached, taught, and put into practice.
• Theologically Conservative Christian views on Homosexuality.
• Neo-orthodoxy, a theological movement developed in the aftermath of the First World War as a reaction against doctrines of 19th-century liberal theology and a reevaluation of the teachings of the Reformation.

See also

• Christian fundamentalism
• Moderate Christianity
• Liberal Christianity
• Progressive Christianity
• Conservatism

Notes and References

1. Web site: Progressing Spirit : Why Traditional Christianity Must Die . 2023-01-19 . Progressing Spirit . 4 October 2018 . en-US . 2023-02-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230209081709/https://progressingspirit.com/2018/10/04/why-traditional-christianity-must-die/ . live .
2. Web site: Dreher . Rod . 2014-07-24 . What Is 'Traditional Christianity,' Anyway? . 2023-01-19 . The American Conservative . en-US . 2023-03-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306222142/https://www.theamericanconservative.com/what-is-traditional-christianity-anyway/ . live .
3. Web site: Biblical Orthodoxy . 2023-01-18 . Trinity International University . en . 2023-06-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230616164809/https://www.tiu.edu/welcome-from-president-perrin/biblical-orthodoxy/ . live .
4. Web site: What Do Christians Mean When They Use the Word "Conservative"? . 2022-03-25 . The Good Book Blog - Biola University Blogs . 18 November 2019 . en-us . 2023-01-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230117205355/https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2019/what-do-christians-mean-when-they-use-the-word-conservative . live .
5. Web site: Sinclair . George . "Conservative" And "Liberal" Christianity . 2022-03-25 . The Gospel Coalition Canada . 8 April 2019 . en-US . 2023-01-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230117205349/https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/article/conservative-and-liberal-christianity/ . live .
6. Web site: Pinnock . Clark H. . An Evangelical Theology: Conservative and Contemporary . 2022-05-12 . ChristianityToday.com . 5 January 1979 . en . 2023-01-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230117205355/https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1979/january-5/evangelical-theology-conservative-and-contemporary.html . live .
7. Web site: Waldman . Steve . Green . John C. . April 29, 2004 . Evangelicals v. Fundamentalists . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230614120035/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jesus/evangelicals/vs.html . October 9, 2021 . pbs.org/wgbh . Frontline: The Jesus Factor . PBS/WGBH . Boston . June 14, 2023 .
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 . en . 11 . 4 . 496–497 . 10.1177/106385120201100411 . 220284807 . 1063-8512 . 2023-01-17 . 2023-01-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230117205354/http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/106385120201100411 . live .
10. Book: Dorrien, Gary J. . The making of American liberal theology . 2001–2006 . Westminster John Knox Press . 0-664-22354-0 . 1st . Louisville, Ky. . 48542292 . 2023-01-17 . 2023-01-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230117205354/https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/48542292 . live .
11. Web site: DeYoung . Kevin . The Making of American Liberal Theology . 2023-01-17 . The Gospel Coalition . 4 March 2011 . en-US . 2023-01-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230117205356/https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/the-making-of-american-liberal-theology/ . live .
12. Web site: Merriam . Webster . Neoorthodoxy . 2008-07-26 . Dictionary . online . 2023-03-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306024808/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neo-orthodox . live .
13. [Robert McAfee Brown|Brown, Robert McAfee]
14. Web site: Conservative Christianity after the Christian Right . 2023-01-17 . Faith Angle Forum . en-US . 2023-03-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230321211143/https://faithangle.org/session/conservative-christianity-christian-right/ . live .
15. Web site: Coleman . Creighton . 2017-01-23 . Can the Religious Right be Left? Christian Political Organizing in the Age of President Trump . 2023-01-17 . Conciliar Post . en-US . 2023-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230205043127/https://conciliarpost.com/politics-current-events/christianity-political-organizing/ . live .
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
17. Web site: Hoffacker . Jayna C. . 2010-08-18 . Catholicism and Community: American Political Culture and the. Conservative Catholic Social Justice Tradition, 1890-1960 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201034831/https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1039&context=history_theses . 2023-02-01 . 2023-01-17 . Georgia State University.
18. http://www.scotthahn.com/catholic-theological-resources.html "Catholic Theological Resources | Scott Hahn"
19. Book: Dragani, Anthony . Adrian Fortescue and the Eastern Christian Churches . 2014-06-30 . Gorgias Press . 978-1-4632-3641-0 . 137–156 . en . 6. Eastern Christian Theology and Faith Ii . 10.31826/9781463236410-008 . 2023-01-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230117205355/https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.31826/9781463236410-008/html . 2023-01-17 . live.
20. Book: James R., Lewis . The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions . Prometheus Books . 1998 . 1-57392-222-6 . 1st . United States . 367 . Old Catholic Movement.
21. Rock, Stella (2007). Popular religion in Russia. Routledge, 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, 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. .
26. Web site: Progress of Redemption – Buck Hatch Library . 2023-01-19 . buckhatchlibrary.com . 2023-06-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230601191306/https://buckhatchlibrary.com/series/progress/ . live .
27. Web site: Bishops of the Polish National Catholic Church . 2008-04-28 . The Declaration of Scranton: a profession of faith and declaration . 2018-01-18 . theunionofscranton.org . Union of Scranton . Scranton, PA . Lancaster, NY.
28. Web site: Polish National Catholic Church. General Synod . October 2010 . The Declaration of Scranton: official commentary . 2018-01-18 . theunionofscranton.org . Union of Scranton .
29. Book: Deckman, Melissa Marie . School Board Battles: The Christian Right in Local Politics . . 2004 . 9781589010017 . . 48 . 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. . Melissa Deckman . April 10, 2014 . registration.
30. Book: Joireman . Sandra F. . Sandra Joireman. Church, State, and Citizen: Christian Approaches to Political Engagement . . 2009 . 978-0-19-537845-0 . Joireman . Sandra F. . . 73–91 . Anabaptism and the State: An Uneasy Coexistence . 2008038533 . February 26, 2022 . https://scholarship.richmond.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1090&context=polisci-faculty-publications . https://web.archive.org/web/20201125145905/https://scholarship.richmond.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1090&context=polisci-faculty-publications . November 25, 2020 . live . 153268965.
31. Web site: Dr. Timothy Keller at the March 2013 Faith Angle Forum . 2023-01-19 . Ethics & Public Policy Center . en-US . 2023-04-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230401231307/https://eppc.org/publication/dr-timothy-keller-at-the-march-2013-faith-angle-forum/ . live .
32. Web site: Doctrine and Race: African American Evangelicals and Fundamentalism between the Wars . 2023-01-20 . The Gospel Coalition . en-US . 2023-03-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306222142/https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/review/doctrine-and-race-african-american-evangelicals-and-fundamentalism-between-the-wars/ . live .
33. Web site: Content On: Apologetics Bible.org . 2023-01-18 . www.bible.org . en . 2023-01-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230118190434/http://bible.org//qa.asp?topic_id=53&qa_id=141 . live .
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. Web site: Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy - Wikisource, the free online library. en.wikisource.org. 2023-04-23. 2023-06-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20230627034253/https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Chicago_Statement_on_Biblical_Inerrancy. live.
41. News: Sherwood . Harriet . 13 August 2016 . As traditional believers turn away, is this a new crisis of faith? . en . The Guardian . 6 April 2021 . Conservative evangelicals are biblical fundamentalists . 27 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190327213543/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/13/church-of-england-evangelical-drive . live .
42. News: Sherwood . Harriet . 13 August 2016 . As Traditional Believers Turn Away, Is This a New Crisis of Faith? . The Guardian . London . 16 April 2018 . 27 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190327213543/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/13/church-of-england-evangelical-drive . live .
43. Book: Hill . Brennan . Faith, Religion & Theology: A Contemporary Introduction . Knitter . Paul F. . Madges . William . . 1997 . 978-0-89622-725-5 . 326 . 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. . 2023-01-18 . 2023-11-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231109211424/https://books.google.com/books?id=ek6bzhrlJL8C&pg=PA326#v=onepage&q&f=false . live .
44. Web site: Definition of MAGISTERIUM . 2018-08-16 . www.merriam-webster.com . en . 2023-03-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326031130/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magisterium . live .
45. Web site: What Is the Magisterium? Thomas Storck IgnatiusInsight.com . 2018-08-16 . www.ignatiusinsight.com . 2023-01-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230119061113/http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2007/tstorck_magisterium_may07.asp . dead .
46. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 85)
47. Web site: Dei verbum . 2018-08-16 . www.vatican.va . 2014-05-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140531175312/https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html . live .
48. Web site: Catechism of the Catholic Church - IntraText . 2018-08-16 . www.vatican.va . 2011-06-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110629040500/https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__PM.HTM . live .