Reformed Catholicism?

If they were all like @Albion then they would be pretty easy to accept. I, for one, do not claim to know much about them, but I daresay you know enough about them since your recent experiences. Did you not mention something about their liberal ways?

Well, I'm certainly no authority on Anglicanism; but all of the writers who came out of Britain in the "Great Awakening" of the late 18th century were all Anglican. And there's certainly no denying that the Great Awakening had a huge impact on history. It certainly was a legitimate revival. So was that the "reformation" of the "catholic" church? I suppose one could legitimately make that argument.

Of the Anglican church today; I know next to nothing!

Hammster said:

J. C. Ryle is a favorite author. So there’s that.

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And J.I Packer.

Historically Anglicanism has been defined by common worship, not common theology. Of course worship implies theology, so there are some limits. But the presence of Reformed people in it doesn't make it a Reformed church.

JM said:

For my fellow Calvinist Protestants, what is your view of Anglicanism, past and present?

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Some Anglicans are Reformed, just with an episcopal polity.

Others are standard liberal Protestants, and some are wannabe Catholics. There's a lot of variation.

Radagast said:

Some Anglicans are Reformed, just with an episcopal polity. Others are standard liberal Protestants, and some are wannabe Catholics. There's a lot of variation.

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The historic truth was often summed up in the quip 'Anglicans are a divers group of people loosely bound together by a prayer book'. To some extent that prayer book has fallen a little by the wayside and we are left with the nature and character of Anglican Worship.

The Elizabethan Settlement has had a lasting impact of Anglicanism, and it gave expression to a desire for unity following the turbulent times of the middle Tudor's Henry VIII, Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, and Mary. Elizabeth went about a process of trying to find some lasting accord that would provide a place for every person in the realm loyal to sovereign and to Christ. That included those who have been profoundly influenced by the continental reformation and those whose faith journey was largely shaped by the old religion (especially in the North).

The late 19th century ecumenists asked the question of Anglicans, what will you not give up?, and the answer came shaped in the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral.

1. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as "containing all things necessary to salvation," and as being the rule and ultimate standard of faith.
2. The Apostles' Creed, as the Baptismal Symbol; and the Nicene Creed, as the sufficient statement of the Christian faith.
3. The two Sacraments ordained by Christ Himself – Baptism and the Supper of the Lord – ministered with unfailing use of Christ's words of Institution, and of the elements ordained by Him.
4. The Historic Episcopate, locally adapted in the methods of its administration to the varying needs of the nations and peoples called of God into the Unity of His Church.

I think the term 'wannabe' is not an adequate or appropriate description of any Anglican variety. There are numbers of Anglicans who have also come to see a great deal more in the East. The challenges of the current age have been challenging, and we find ourselves with a great deal of the encompassing rubber band of Anglican inclusivity is a little frayed, and the are divergent expressions.

Please pray for us that we might continue to shine as a light in the darkness.

Philip_B said:

The historic truth was often summed up in the quip 'Anglicans are a divers group of people loosely bound together by a prayer book'. To some extent that prayer book has fallen a little by the wayside and we are left with the nature and character of Anglican Worship.

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Even just within Australia, "the nature and character of Anglican Worship" varies substantially.

Philip_B said:

The Elizabethan Settlement has had a lasting impact of Anglicanism, and it gave expression to a desire for unity following the turbulent times of the middle Tudor's Henry VIII, Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, and Mary. Elizabeth went about a process of trying to find some lasting accord that would provide a place for every person in the realm loyal to sovereign and to Christ. That included those who have been profoundly influenced by the continental reformation and those whose faith journey was largely shaped by the old religion (especially in the North).

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Indeed.

Philip_B said:

I think the term 'wannabe' is not an adequate or appropriate description of any Anglican variety.

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No disrespect was intended. Some Anglicans see themselves as Catholic. In the face of disagreement on the point from Rome, some of those have crossed the Tiber. Others simply behave as if they had.

Philip_B said:

There are numbers of Anglicans who have also come to see a great deal more in the East.

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Reminiscences of an Anglo-Orthodox Summer-School, by E. L. Mascall

The sun was shining in the sky
With unimpeded ray.
He did his very best to make
The place serene and gay,
And this was strange, because it was
An English summer day.

The rain had vanished sulkily,
Because it thought- the sun
Had got no business to be there
Now August had begun.
"With all these people here," it said,
"We ought to spoil their fun."

The rooms were close as close could be,
The lectures dry as dry.
No heresies had raised their heads,
No schisms wandered by.
You could not think a thought, because
It was too hot to try.

The Thomist and the Palamite
Were walking hand in hand.
Each did his very best to make
The other understand.
"If only we could both agree,"
They said, "It would be grand."

"If sixty trained philosophers
Argued for half a year,
Do you suppose," the Thomist said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Palamite,
And shed a bitter tear.

"Let us collect some simple souls,"
The Thomist did beseech,
"For they have very much to learn
And we have much to teach."
"Why, yes," replied the Palamite,
"That ought to heal the breach."

The older theologians heard,
But never a word they said.
While one discreetly winked his eye,
Another shook his head,
Meaning he much preferred to spend
The afternoon in bed.

But crowds of simple souls rushed up,
All eager for the treat.
The Thomist and the Palamite
Sat on the garden-seat,
And all the simple souls sat round
In circles at their feet.

"The time has come," the Thomist said,
"To talk of many things,
Of angels perched on needle-points
And how a seraph sings."
"And also," said the Palamite,
"If energies have wings."

"But stay," exclaimed the simple souls,
"Before you start your chat.
We have not got the least idea
What you are getting at!"
"No matter," said the Palamite,
"We quite expected that."

"A lot of time," the Thomist said,
"Is what we chiefly need,
Six blackboards and some coloured chalks-
They're very good indeed.
And here are forty-seven books
Which we propose to read."

"But not to us!" their hearers cried,
Turning extremely blue,
"We did not know that was the sort
Of thing you meant to do!"
"Oh dear," the Thomist said, "Of course
I should say, fifty-two.

"It's very kind of us to come
So far from hearth and home."
The Palamite said nothing but
"Fetch me another tome.
I mean the one in fourteen parts
About the Church of Rome.

"It seems a shame," the Thomist said,
"To lead them such a dance;
And yet we surely must not lose
So promising a chance."
The Palamite said nothing but
"They're used to it in France."

"We weep for you," the Thomist said,
"We deeply sympathize.
You boggle at the simplest words
Like 'supernaturalize.'"
"And even," said the Palamite,
"Like 'demythologize.'"

They lectured in alternate spells
Until the set of sun,
And then the question-time began,
But questions there were none,
For on the grass the simple souls
Lay sleeping every one.

JM said:

Anglican Priest Father McKinnon posted some lectures online outlining Anglicanism. To me, they were very convincing when I first listened to them last year and even more so the second time through just last week. According to Fr. McKinnon the Anglican church is small ‘c’ catholic, it is Catholicism Reformed back to scripture and the early patristic writers.

For my fellow Calvinist Protestants, what is your view of Anglicanism, past and present?

Yours in the Lord,

jm

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Excellent link thanks!