Post History

Christianity Q&A: Guidelines and Scope

Welcome to the Codidact site for Christianity! We're delighted to have you join our Q&A community. This site is designed for committed Christians, experts in Christian theology and its authoritative texts, and those genuinely seeking to learn more. While your personal beliefs are welcome, all questions and answers should directly relate to Christianity and be presented respectfully.

## What questions belong here?

This site thrives on questions that seek factual, objective answers grounded in Christian traditions and scholarship. We encourage questions that explore:

- **Historical and Doctrinal Development:** The evolution of Christian beliefs, biblical interpretations, and practices.
- **Denominational and Movement Studies:** The specific beliefs and practices of Christian churches, denominations, and movements.
- **Biblical Scholarship:** Theological, linguistic, historical, literary, ethical, and practical dimensions of biblical texts.
- **Tradition-Specific Interpretations:** Understanding religious texts from the perspective of a specific Christian viewpoint.
- **Explanations of Christian Practices:** Clear descriptions of the beliefs and practices of a particular Christian tradition, denomination, or movement.

## What questions don't fit?

To maintain a focused and productive Q&A environment, certain questions are not well-suited for this site. These include:

- **Opinion Polls:** Questions seeking purely subjective opinions without grounding in a specific Christian perspective.
- **Unspecified Biblical Interpretation:** Questions asking "what the Bible says" without referencing a specific Christian perspective.
- **Personal Pastoral Advice:** Questions seeking individualized counseling or guidance.
- **Non-Tradition-Specific Philosophical/Ethical Questions:** Questions about morality, truth, or ethics that are not tied to a stated Christian tradition's position. This includes questions about whether or not an action is considered sinful.
- **Salvation Judgments:** Questions about who is "in" or "out" of salvation, unless tied to a specific tradition's doctrine.
- **Overly Broad Questions:** General questions about "Christianity" or the "biblical basis" for something without focus on a specific Christian perspective, or requests for a survey of all Christian traditions.

## Who is considered a Christian here?

For the purposes of this site, any group or individual that identifies as Christian is considered within our scope. Answers will be evaluated based on how accurately they represent the specific view or tradition they claim to represent, regardless of personal agreement. Effective answers thoroughly support a specific viewpoint or accurately describe a range of views. Ineffective answers misrepresent a viewpoint, are disrespectful toward other views, or fail to address the question directly.

However, to maintain a focus on _established_ Christian thought and discussion, we do not encourage perspectives that are purely subjective or confined to extremely narrow groups. If your theological perspective is unique to yourself, a single parish, or a single household, it may not be a good fit for this site. We aim to foster dialogue between established Christian traditions and viewpoints that have a broader presence and recognition within the Christian community.

## Authority within Christian traditions: A diverse landscape

A key point of divergence within Christianity lies in the understanding and application of authority. Different traditions recognize distinct sources of authority, leading to diverse interpretations and practices. Here's a glimpse into the variety:

- **Roman Catholic:** Authority encompasses the Pope, ecumenical councils, and Sacred Scripture, which includes the deuterocanonical texts. Specific rites (e.g., Latin, Byzantine) possess their own canon law and ecclesiastical documents.
- **Eastern Orthodox:** Authority is derived from ecumenical councils, Sacred Scripture (including a broader canon than Catholicism and the Septuagint as the primary source for the Old Testament), canon law, and patristic consensus.
- **Oriental Orthodox:** The Oriental Orthodox Churches, including the Coptic, Armenian, Syriac, Ethiopian, and Eritrean traditions, hold to the authority of the first three Ecumenical Councils (Nicaea, Constantinople, and Ephesus), their own synods, and the Patristic writings of their respective traditions. They have a distinct understanding of Christology, which differentiates them from the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches.
- **Protestant:** Authority primarily rests in the Bible alone, typically defined as the 66-book Protestant canon. Within Protestantism, different groups are typically referred to as "denominations." This stems from the theological doctrine of the "invisible church," which posits that all true believers, regardless of their specific affiliation, are part of one unified body of Christ. Thus, while visible organizations are separated into denominations, they are all considered part of the larger, invisible church.
  - **Lutheran:** While upholding "Scripture alone," Lutherans also consider the Lutheran Confessions (with variations in defined documents) to be authoritative and binding interpretations of Scripture. Other confessional Protestant denominations follow a similar pattern with their own historical documents.
  - **Anglican:** Authority within the Anglican Communion is often described as a "three-legged stool" of Scripture, Tradition, and Reason. This means that while Scripture holds primary authority, it is interpreted in light of the historic traditions of the Church and through the use of reason. The _Book of Common Prayer_ and the _Thirty-Nine Articles_ also hold significant authority.
  - **Baptist:** For Baptists, authority primarily rests in the Bible, as interpreted by the individual congregation. Some Baptists may claim specific manuscript traditions (e.g., _Textus Receptus_) or English translations (e.g., 1611 Authorized Version / KJV) as authoritative.
  - **Pentecostal:** Pentecostal traditions generally emphasize the authority of Scripture, but also place a strong emphasis on the direct experience of the Holy Spirit. This can include spiritual gifts such as prophecy and speaking in tongues. Some Pentecostal denominations also have established leadership structures and doctrinal statements that carry authority.
  - **Non-Denominational:** Non-denominational churches are independent congregations that are not formally affiliated with a specific denominational structure. Authority is typically localized within the individual church, based on the Bible and the church's own doctrinal statement, leading to diverse interpretations across congregations.
  - **Many more....** The above were listed as _examples._ Many other Protestant denominations, such as Presbyterian, Methodist, and Reformed traditions, generally emphasize the Bible as the primary source of authority, but also rely on their own historical confessions, doctrinal standards, and denominational structures for interpretation and guidance.

This diversity highlights several critical points:

- Christians hold differing views on the composition of the biblical canon.
- The authority and interpretation of historical councils and documents vary significantly.
- Christianity encompasses a vast spectrum of beliefs and perspectives.

Because Christian traditions differ on what constitutes authoritative texts and how they should be interpreted, general questions about 'Christian perspectives' or 'what the Bible says' are problematic. 'Scripture alone' questions, for instance, typically reflect a Protestant view. To ensure relevant answers, specify the Christian tradition or viewpoint you seek. Unspecified questions that lead to subjective answers may be closed.