Session #2 - Richard Hooker

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What do Anglicans Believe?

Are there particular statements to which one might point and say 'That's an Anglican belief?'  Do Anglicans hold to or deny certain beliefs which mark them as different from other denominations?  Some denominations, such as the Lutheran Church, hold to specific 'confessions' which unite them as a Church and clarify their positions on particular issues.  Other denominations, such as the Roman Catholic Church, have a centralized Canon Law system which decides upon and defines their beliefs and doctrines.  Where do Anglican beliefs come from and what do we believe?

Our Origins in Mixed Company

For the most part, the Church of England grew out of a struggle for authority and not out of disagreements over any particular beliefs. Under Henry VIII political control over the Church did not mean change to beliefs different from Rome.  Under Edward VI an established Church of England expressed certain reformation ideas in its Book of Common Prayer and 42 Articles of Religion.  Under Mary Christians in England were pressured to reaffirm their loyalty to Rome and Roman Catholic beliefs under threat of torture or death.  Finally, under Elizabeth I, a peace within the country and Church was established through the 'Elizabethan Settlement'  - a peace which left room for a broad array of beliefs to exist (uncomfortably) side by side.  The result was that a distinct Church developed in England which consisted of devote 'Catholics,' extreme Protestants (referred to as 'Puritans') and all kinds in between, each holding to a different set of beliefs.

Anglicans are Christians

First and foremost it is important to state that Anglicans are Christians.  Above all of the conflicts there is the central claim to be 'Christian.'  One definition of Christianity is: 'The religion stemming from the life, teachings, and death of Jesus Christ: the religion that believes in God as the Father Almighty who works redemptively through the Holy Spirit for our salvation and that affirms Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior who proclaimed to the world the gospel of salvation.'  The religious and political battles which guided the development of the Church of England all claimed to be in support of 'true Christianity.'  Reformers reformed in the name of the Gospel as did the Roman Catholic Church assert that it was the true bearer of the Good News.

Richard Hooker - The First Anglican Theologian

Though many attempts were made from the time of Thomas Cramner (primary author of the Book of Common Prayer) to define Anglican beliefs, most of these attempts were made in the form of Parliamentary Acts.  Ten, Six, Forty-Two and Thirty-Nine articles were approved by different sittings of Parliament in the effort to politically determine the religion of the Church of England.  But these Articles were not so much the product of theological reflection as they were political tools.  It was not until the period of the Elizabethan Settlement that breathing space in the see-saw of theological debate was found to allow for meaningful reflection on 'Anglican' beliefs as apposed to 'Reformation' or 'Catholic' doctrines.

The first theologian to rise to the challenge of defining 'Anglican beliefs' was Richard Hooker (1553-1600).  Hooker grew up in a Church where debate was kept in check by the Elizabethan Settlement. Despite this, the arguments over which doctrines were 'true' and which were 'heresy' still raged in the background.  After his ordination, he became well-known as a preacher and debater against Puritan attempts to complete the reformation which had started in England.  In response to these debates Hooker wrote a number of works in defence of the Church of England as a valid national church and not just another part of the European reformation.  These works were the first clear attempts to define Anglican beliefs.

Balancing Scripture, Reason and Tradition

One of the highlights of Hooker's theology was his description of the relationship among Scripture, Reason and Tradition - three sources of truth.  Simply put, truth is revealed by God (Scripture), our own mental faculties (Reason) and the shared wisdom of the Church's councils (Tradition).  In later years this theological description gave rise to the image of the '3-Legged Stool.'  In this image, Anglican doctrines are seen to rest upon the three supporting legs of Scripture, Reason and Tradition.  Despite its popularity, this is not a fair description of what Hooker was trying to say.  In the image of the 3-Legged Stool, each leg must be equal or the stool will fall over.  Hooker, however, made it abundantly clear that God (through Scriptures) was the greatest source of truth.  Reason was the tool of our minds, given by God, by which we understand and apply Scripture to our daily lives.  Only on topics where the Scriptures are silent (i.e., whether the Church should be ruled by a Pope or Monarch) was it the responsibility of the councils of the Church (Tradition) to make decisions.  Generally speaking, anything not specifically determined by Scripture was a matter of adiaphora - 'indifferent things'; referring to matters not regarded as essential to faith, but are nevertheless permissible for Christians or allowed in church.  In this way Hooker justified Elizabeth's role as head of the Church, determined by the Church's councils and the maintenance of the Church of England as a distinct, national Church.

Despite Hooker's intention, however, the image of a  3-Legged Stool has remained popular since the 19th century and many have come to accept the idea that these three equal sources of truth are the determining factors in any attempt to describe what Anglicans believe.  As the Church continued to debate and evolve after Hooker's time, different groups within the Church of England took a 'leg' of the stool upon which to develop their particular beliefs.  The result was (and is) a Church that is made up of Evangelicals (emphasizing Scripture), Anglo-Catholics (emphasizing Tradition) and Latitudinarians (emphasizing Reason)...but that is a topic for our next session.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

In the attempt to understand what Anglicans believe, we must, as Hooker suggests, balance the relationship among Scripture, Tradition and Reason.  Do you believe there should be an order of importance?  Are they equal?  What do you believe? Can you name any 'Anglican' beliefs that are different from other Christian denominations?  How do you believe we are the same as or different from other Christians?  Does it even matter? Read Articles 6-8 (Book of Common Prayer p.700-701) asking the question 'how do these particular statements fit (or not fit) with Hooker's teachings?' How does the question of the relationship among Scripture, Tradition and Reason come up today?  What might be an Anglican response to these issues? The argument has been made from a number of Anglican Church Committees that questions around issues of homosexuality are adiaphora since the Scriptures are not abundantly clear.  What do you believe? Anglicanism has been described as a 'broad' faith allowing differences of opinion over many topics.  Others have said that 'Anglicans sit on the fence with both ears to the ground...a very painful position indeed!!'  As we continue to explore what it means to be Anglican, do you believe our diversity is a source of strength or weakness?  Why?