Christian tradition is a collection oftraditions consisting of practices or beliefs associated withChristianity. Many churches have traditional practices, such as particular patterns ofworship orrites, that developed over time. Deviations from such patterns are sometimes considered unacceptable by followers, or are regarded asheretical. There are certain Christian traditions that are practiced throughout theliturgical year, such as praying adaily devotional during Advent, erecting anativity scene during Christmastide,chalking the door on Epiphany Day, fasting duringLent, waving palms onPalm Sunday, eating easter eggs during Eastertide, and decorating the church in red onPentecost.[1][2]
Tradition also includes historic teaching of the recognized church authorities, such asChurch Councils and ecclesiastical officials (e.g., thePope,Patriarch of Constantinople,Archbishop of Canterbury, etc.), and includes the teaching of significant individuals like theChurch Fathers, theProtestant Reformers, and the founders ofdenominations. Manycreeds, confessions of faith, andcatechisms generated by these bodies are also part of the traditions of various bodies.
TheCatholic,Eastern Orthodox,Oriental Orthodox andPersian churches distinguish between what is called Apostolic orsacred tradition and ecclesiastical traditions. In the course of time ecclesial traditions develop in theology, discipline,liturgy, and devotions. These the Church may retain, modify or even abandon.[3] Apostolic tradition, on the other hand, is the teaching that was handed down by theApostles by word of mouth, by their example and "by the institutions they established", among which is theapostolic succession of thebishops: "this living transmission, accomplished in the Holy Spirit, is called Tradition".[4] "And[Holy] Tradition transmits in its entirety the Word of God, which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit."[5]
Prima scriptura is upheld by theAnglican andMethodist traditions, which teach that Scripture is the primary source for Christian doctrine, but that "tradition, experience, and reason" can subordinately inform Christian practice as long as they are in harmony with theBible.[6][7] In Methodism, sacred tradition refers to "church's consensual interpretation of the Bible" and in view of theprima scriptura perspective, informs doctrine, such as that regardinginfant baptism for example, in which Methodist teaching appeals to Scripture chiefly, along with the teachings of the Church Fathers and early Methodist divines for support of the practice.[8]
For many denominations of Christianity, included in sacred tradition are the writings of theAnte-Nicene Fathers,Nicene Fathers andPost-Nicene Fathers.[9]
In his book,James F. Keenan reports studies by some Catholic academics. A study by Bernard Hoose states that claims to a continuous teaching by the Church on matters of sexuality, life and death and crime and punishment are "simply not true". After examining seven medieval texts about homosexuality, Mark Jordan argues that, "far from being consistent, any attempt to make a connection among the texts proved impossible". He calls the tradition's teaching of the Church "incoherent". Karl-Wilhelm Merks considers thattradition itself is "not the truth guarantor of any particular teaching." Keenan, however, says that studies of "manualists" such asJohn T. Noonan Jr. has demonstrated that, "despite claims to the contrary, manualists were co-operators in the necessary historical development of the moral tradition." Noonan, according to Keenan, has provided a new way of viewing at "areas where the Church not only changed, but shamefully did not".[10]
In the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodoxy,sacred tradition, but not "ecclesial traditions", is considered official doctrine and of equal authoritative weight to the Bible. In the Anglican and Methodist traditions, sacred tradition, along with reason and experience, inform Christian practice at a level subordinate to Sacred Scripture (seeprima scriptura).[6] Among theLutheran andReformed traditions of Christianity, theBible itself is the only final authority (seesola scriptura), but tradition still plays an important supporting role.[6] All three groups generally accept the traditional developments on the doctrine of theTrinity, for instance, and set bounds of orthodoxy and heresy based on that tradition. They also have developed creedal and confessional statements which summarize and develop their understanding of biblical teaching. For instance, the Nicene Creed.
the time to read a daily devotional during Advent...
The United Methodists see Scripture as the primary source and criterion for Christian doctrine. They emphasize the importance of tradition, experience, and reason for Christian doctrine. Lutherans teach that the Bible is the sole source for Christian doctrine. The truths of Scripture do not need to be authenticated by tradition, human experience, or reason. Scripture is self authenticating and is true in and of itself.
historically Anglicans have adopted what could be called a prima Scriptura position.
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