66%
Confidence
Belief overview
Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience
Biblical reading is illuminated by tradition, reason, and experience in Wesleyan theology.
2
Supportive
0
Contrary
1
Neutral
What it is: The Wesleyan heritage usually describes theological work as centered in Scripture and illuminated by tradition, reason, and experience.
How the tradition understands it: Scripture maintains primacy, but is not read in absolute isolation. Church tradition, rational reflection, and Christian experience help understand and apply the faith.
Basis and context: The so-called Wesleyan quadrilateral is a later formulation, but it well summarizes the theological practice attributed to the Methodist tradition.
Debates and variations: There is dispute about how to balance these elements and about how much weight experience can gain.
Documentary evidence
Supportive
Methodist Articles of Religion
A classic doctrinal document derived from the Anglican tradition.
Reference: Articles of Religion in Methodist traditions.
Content: The document summarizes beliefs about God, Scripture, sacraments, church, and salvation in a historical Methodist key.
Use in debate: It is an important source for classic Methodist doctrinal identity.
UMC.org, What We Believe
A modern official summary of United Methodist beliefs.
Reference: UMC.org, What We Believe | What it means to be United Methodist.
Content: The text presents forms of grace, holiness of heart and life, means of grace, and a Wesleyan theological reading.
Use in debate: It is an important source for contemporary Methodist language in a Wesleyan line.
Neutral
John Wesley, Sermon On Working Out Our Own Salvation
An important sermon on grace and human cooperation.
Reference: John Wesley, sermon On Working Out Our Own Salvation.
Content: Wesley articulates the primary action of divine grace and responsible human response without self-salvation.
Use in debate: It is an important source for resistible grace and human cooperation.