Paleo-orthodoxy


Paleo-orthodoxy is a Protestant Christian theological movement in the United States which emerged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries and which focuses on the consensual understanding of the faith among the ecumenical councils and Church Fathers. While it understands this consensus of the Church Fathers as orthodoxy proper, it calls itself paleo-orthodoxy to distinguish itself from neo-orthodoxy, a movement that was influential among Protestant churches in the mid-20th century.

Background

Paleo-orthodoxy attempts to see the essentials of Christian theology in the consensus of the Great Church before the schism between the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church and before the separation of Protestantism from the Roman Catholic Church, described in the canon of Vincent of Lérins as "Quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus". Adherents of paleo-orthodoxy often form part of the Convergence Movement. Paleo-orthodox Protestants have different interpretations of the early Church's teachings and many often support women's ordination.

Paleo-orthodox theologians

The dominant figure of the movement, United Methodist theologian Thomas C. Oden of Drew University, published a series of books not only calling for a return to "classical Christianity" but also providing the tools to do so. The 2002 collection of essays in honor of Oden, Ancient and Postmodern Christianity: Paleo-Orthodoxy in the 21st Century offers a glimpse into the work of some of the theologians active in this area: Robert Jenson, Christopher Hall, Amy Oden, Bradely Nassif, David Mills, Robert Webber, Geoffrey Wainwright, Carl Braaten, Stanley Grenz, John Franke, Alan Padget, Wolfhart Pannenberg, Richard John Neuhaus, et al. Similar approaches emerge in the theology of Marva Dawn ; Alister McGrath ; Andrew Purves ; Timothy George ; and Christopher Hall ; and J. Davila-Ashcraft.

Literature

Among Oden's works, either as writer or editor, in support of paleo-orthodoxy are:
Works by other authors: