Concluding my series on the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, I can’t help but introduce Richard Hooker (1554-1600), who was incredibly influential in shaping the the theology of the Anglican church.  Hooker did not introduce the term “Via Media” or Middle Road, but he created the concept: establishing Anglicanism as a middle way between the extremes (then) of Puritanism and Catholicism.  This middle way included the importance of Reason and Tradition for interpreting Scripture.

It has been so long since we’ve seen Charles’ face, I just had to start this strip out with a three-panel gag just to get a chance to draw him again.  I realize Methodism is chock full of extreme liberals and extreme conservatives – they’re all in my church!  I think it is a blessing to belong to a denomination that can hold both extremes even in the same congregation – and I will be sad if the church ever splits.  When I have John & Charles banter-bash Fundamlibralus, I feel I should explain what I mean by having the Enlightenment define Scripture instead of Scripture on its own terms.  Fundamentalists feel the need to use words like “inerrant” to define Scripture, to line up with Modern, Enlightenment ideas that if something is not a historical fact, it isn’t true.  Protestant Liberals use the same criteria in the opposite extreme: all that matters is the moral behind the myth, the nugget of truth inside stories that don’t need to have any historical basis.  How do you think a Middle Road could plow through these extremes?  Especially, a Middle Road where Scripture is seen as “containing everything necessary for salvation” (Wesley)?