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Tradition and Modernity in Protestant Christianity

Protestantism, a relatively late form of Christianity, accepts the principle of sola scriptura as its essence. For the early reformers this was a creative principle, but for subsequent generations it often became a sterile orthodoxy, producing theological and moral rigidity. Hence a tension developed between biblical literalism and the claims of modernity, including the rise of higher criticism. What is the true meaning of biblical authority in light of a rapidly changing world? What are its implications for the Christian lifestyle? Calvinism in particular concerned itself with the latter question, infusing a strain of asceticism into the social order through its distinctive religious ethic. The later puritan extension of Calvinism left an indelible mark on western society. Sometimes the puritan influence degenerated into a narrow legalism; sometimes it produced a deep and genuine godliness. Sola scriptura can have both effects - this is the paradox of Protestantism. At its most profound, Protestantism represents a creative iconoclasm. This is its genius and enduring strength.