A Historical and Theological Survey of the Relationship Between the Principle of Liberty of Conscience and the Doctrine of Scripture in the Baptist Union of South Africa From 1930 to 2005
Aucamp, Casper Andrew
A Historical and Theological Survey of the Relationship Between the Principle of Liberty of Conscience and the Doctrine of Scripture in the Baptist Union of South Africa From 1930 to 2005 - Johannesburg, South Africa South African Theological Seminary 2008 - 130p PDF A4 Summary.Table of contents. Appendix. Bibliography.
SUMMARY: Baptists are well known for two principles, namely the primacy of the Scriptures, and liberty of conscience. The Baptist Union of Southern Africa (BUSA) has historically also sought to uphold these two principles. These two principles, however, can superficially appear to be in conflict with one another. The need to promote doctrinal orthodoxy by defining a doctrine of Scripture could be construed as limiting the liberty of conscience of the individual churches in the BUSA to interpret the Scriptures for themselves. This thesis examines two questions. Firstly, what is the nature of the Baptist principle “liberty of conscience” or “religious liberty,” and how is the principle meant to be understood in the context of the churches’ ongoing mandate to “defend the faith?” Secondly, how, if at all, has the principle of liberty of conscience impacted on the doctrine of Scripture in the BUSA? The research shows that the principle of liberty of conscience was first introduced and advocated in a context of religious persecution from the State. The early Baptists saw the principle of “liberty of conscience” as an opportunity to freely practice their religious convictions and even separate from those who held contrary beliefs. The historical survey of the BUSA indicates that numerous attempts to define and clarify a doctrine of Scripture have been resisted based on the objection that liberty of conscience will be compromised. This has had a negative impact on the doctrine of Scripture. Significant minority groups have developed that hold to views that undermine the authority of the Scriptures, and so impact on the primacy of Scripture in the BUSA. The view of liberty of conscience in the BUSA is found to be at variance with the theological and historic understanding of the principle. This thesis therefore provides a corrective framework within which the BUSA can achieve clarity and stability on the doctrine of Scripture without negatively impacting on the liberty of conscience of the individual churches.
Church--Baptist church principle and doctrine--South Africa
A Historical and Theological Survey of the Relationship Between the Principle of Liberty of Conscience and the Doctrine of Scripture in the Baptist Union of South Africa From 1930 to 2005 - Johannesburg, South Africa South African Theological Seminary 2008 - 130p PDF A4 Summary.Table of contents. Appendix. Bibliography.
SUMMARY: Baptists are well known for two principles, namely the primacy of the Scriptures, and liberty of conscience. The Baptist Union of Southern Africa (BUSA) has historically also sought to uphold these two principles. These two principles, however, can superficially appear to be in conflict with one another. The need to promote doctrinal orthodoxy by defining a doctrine of Scripture could be construed as limiting the liberty of conscience of the individual churches in the BUSA to interpret the Scriptures for themselves. This thesis examines two questions. Firstly, what is the nature of the Baptist principle “liberty of conscience” or “religious liberty,” and how is the principle meant to be understood in the context of the churches’ ongoing mandate to “defend the faith?” Secondly, how, if at all, has the principle of liberty of conscience impacted on the doctrine of Scripture in the BUSA? The research shows that the principle of liberty of conscience was first introduced and advocated in a context of religious persecution from the State. The early Baptists saw the principle of “liberty of conscience” as an opportunity to freely practice their religious convictions and even separate from those who held contrary beliefs. The historical survey of the BUSA indicates that numerous attempts to define and clarify a doctrine of Scripture have been resisted based on the objection that liberty of conscience will be compromised. This has had a negative impact on the doctrine of Scripture. Significant minority groups have developed that hold to views that undermine the authority of the Scriptures, and so impact on the primacy of Scripture in the BUSA. The view of liberty of conscience in the BUSA is found to be at variance with the theological and historic understanding of the principle. This thesis therefore provides a corrective framework within which the BUSA can achieve clarity and stability on the doctrine of Scripture without negatively impacting on the liberty of conscience of the individual churches.
Church--Baptist church principle and doctrine--South Africa