Latitudinarian

Latitudinarian

Latitudinarian was initially a pejorative term applied to a group of 17th-century English theologians who believed in conforming to official Church of England practices but who felt that matters of doctrine, liturgical practice, and ecclesiastical organization were of relatively little importance. In this, they built on Richard Hooker's position, in "Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity", that God cares about the moral state of the individual soul and that such things as church leadership are "things indifferent". However, they took the position far beyond Hooker's own and extended it to doctrinal matters. As a positive position, their stance was that human reason is a sufficient guide when combined with the Holy Spirit for the determination of truth in doctrinal contests, and therefore that legal and doctrinal rulings that constrain reason and the freedom of the believer were neither necessary nor salutary. At the time, their position was referred to as low church (in contrast to the High church position). Later, the latitudinarian position was called Broad church.

The best example of the latitudinarian philosophy is the Cambridge Platonists.

While always officially opposed, the latitudinarian philosophy was, nevertheless, dominant in the 18th century in England. Because of the Hanoverian reluctance to act in church affairs (see, for example, George II's actions in the Bangorian Controversy) and all sides of the religious debates being balanced against one another, the dioceses became tolerant of variation in local practice. Furthermore, after George II dismissed the Convocation, there was very little internal Church power to sanction or approve. Thus, with no Archbishop of Canterbury officially announcing it, nor Lords adopting it, latitudinarianism was the operative philosophy of the English church in the 18th century. For the 18th-century English church in the United States (which would become the Episcopal Church after the American Revolution), latitudinarianism was the only practical course since it was a nation with official pluralism and diversity of opinion and diffusion of clerical power.

Today, latitudinarianism must not be confused with ecumenical movements, which seek to draw all Christian churches together, rather than to de-emphasize practical doctrine. The term has taken on a more general meaning, indicating a personal philosophy which includes being widely tolerant of other views, particularly (but not necessarily) on religious matters.

ee also

*Anglo-Catholic
*High Church
*Low Church
*Broad Church


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  • Latitudinarian — Lat i*tu di*na ri*an, a. [Cf. F. latitudinaire.] 1. Not restrained; not confined by precise limits. [1913 Webster] 2. Indifferent to a strict application of any standard of belief or opinion; hence, deviating more or less widely from such… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Latitudinarian — Lat i*tu di*na ri*an, n. 1. One who is moderate in his notions, or not restrained by precise settled limits in opinion; one who indulges freedom in thinking. [1913 Webster] 2. (Eng. Eccl. Hist.) A member of the Church of England, in the time of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • latitudinarian — index nonpartisan, open minded Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • latitudinarian — (adj.) 1660s, characterized by broad mindedness, especially in reference to Episcopal clergymen indifferent to doctrinal details; from L. latitudin , from LATITUDE (Cf. latitude) in its meaning freedom from narrow restrictions (c.1600). Related:… …   Etymology dictionary

  • latitudinarian — [lat΄ə to͞o΄də ner′ē ən, lat΄ətyo͞o′də ner′ē ən] adj. [< L latitudo (gen. latitudinis): see LATITUDE & ARIAN] liberal in one s views; permitting free thought, esp. in religious matters; very tolerant n. a person who has very liberal views and …   English World dictionary

  • latitudinarian — adjective Date: 1697 not insisting on strict conformity to a particular doctrine or standard ; tolerant; specifically tolerant of variations in religious opinion or doctrine • latitudinarian noun • latitudinarianism noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • latitudinarian — latitudinarianism, n. /lat i toohd n air ee euhn, tyoohd /, adj. 1. allowing or characterized by latitude in opinion or conduct, esp. in religious views. n. 2. a person who is latitudinarian in opinion or conduct. 3. Anglican Ch. one of the… …   Universalium

  • latitudinarian — [ˌlatɪtju:dɪ nɛ:rɪən] adjective liberal, especially in religious views. noun a person with a latitudinarian attitude. Derivatives latitudinarianism noun …   English new terms dictionary

  • latitudinarian — noun (C) formal someone who is willing to accept other people s beliefs and behaviour latitudinarian adjective …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • latitudinarian — lat•i•tu•di•nar•i•an [[t]ˌlæt ɪˌtud nˈɛər i ən, ˌtyud [/t]] adj. 1) characterized by latitude in opinion or conduct 2) a person who is latitudinarian • Etymology: 1655–65 lat i•tu di•nar′i•an•ism, n …   From formal English to slang

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