Methodists...

[Wryetui]

Hello here. I am interested in learning about what the Methodist Church teaches and in special, I have a question: Within protestantism, what makes the Methodist Church different from other protestant denominations?

I have heard that Wesley was interested in Orthodox Theology so I am too interested in Methodism

 

[food4thought]

Well, there are two main differences from other mainline protestant denominations that jump to mind:

1) Methodism's focus on free will as opposed to the Calvinist idea of God's absolute sovereignty.

2) The way of doing theology called the "quadrilateral", which is described as a four leg table, with each leg supporting the table top. The four legs are Scripture (primary), experience, tradition, and reason.

Hope this helps, and others more knowledgeable than I will add depth and perhaps a few other distinctives.

 

[Wryetui]

Well, there are two main differences from other mainline protestant denominations that jump to mind:

1) Methodism's focus on free will as opposed to the Calvinist idea of God's absolute sovereignty.

2) The way of doing theology called the "quadrilateral", which is described as a four leg table, with each leg supporting the table top. The four legs are Scripture (primary), experience, tradition, and reason.

Hope this helps, and others more knowledgeable than I will add depth and perhaps a few other distinctives.

Thank you, tell me more about that table!

 

[food4thought]

Thank you, tell me more about that table!

I am fairly new to Methodism, Wryetui. Perhaps one of the other posters could give you more detail.

 

[circuitrider]

Methodism's emphasis on grace and the way John Wesley described grace as Prevenient, Justifying and Sanctifying are a big part of Methodism.

By the way, most mainline denominations aren't Calvinist. At least if you mean what are called the "seven sisters of the mainline." Those include

The Episcopal Church
The United Methodist Church
The United Church of Christ
The American Baptist Churches, USA
The Disciples of Christ
The Presbyterian Church, USA
The Evangelical Lutheran Church

Only PCUSA has Calvinist roots but its Calvinism is mild and modified. The UCC has some Calvinism in its history but the denomination really isn't Calvinist today.