Perspectives on the Christian Faith
This section is devoted to excerpts and articles by various authors who
have presented important observations on the Christian Faith, or analyses of
historical theological writings or theological perspectives. Since there are many
sites on the web that contain the full text of many historical writings,
those presented here will normally be limited to short excerpts that have
particular relevance to ongoing discussions in the various forums, are not
easily available elsewhere, or are presented in digested or edited form to
make them more readable. See below for links to
John Wesley's sermon, “On a Catholic Spirit,” in
which he appeals for unity among Christians even when they differ on
non-essential points of doctrine; edited into modern English.
A concise description by John Wesley of what he
understood to be the ideal "shape" of the Christian life, as well as to
defend against unjust criticism.
An excerpt from John Wesley's "Preface" to Sermons on
Several Occasions, 1771, dealing with conflicts between Christians.
John Wesley's response to critics who had accused
him of heresy because he had expanded on James Arminius' idea of free
grace, which rejected the classic Calvinistic doctrine of
An excerpt from The Institutes of the Christian
Religion (Book 4, Chapter 16) in which John Calvin defends the
practice of infant baptism, especially against the objections of the
Anabaptists and the position of believers-only baptism.
Excerpts from two letters written by C. S. Lewis in
which he discusses the nature of Scripture, especially in relation to
the issue of inerrancy.
An article by Catherine Booth, co-founder of the Salvation Army, defending
the right and responsibility of women in ministry.
A reference archive of creeds and confessions of the Christian Faith from
all periods of Church History, including the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian
Creed, the Scot's Confession, the Lutheran and Heidelberg Catechism,
Documents of Vatican 2, as well
as the Articles of Faith of a few modern denominations.
An extensive archive of writings of the Ante-Nicene, Nicene, and Post-Nicene
Fathers from Clement of Rome to Gregory the Great; provided by the Christian
Classics Ethereal Library of Calvin College.