podcast 5 – Anglicans Defending “Athanasius”

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This time, an answer to Nye by Anglican minister and writer William Sherlock (c. 1641 – 1707 – pictured to the left). He offers a unique, but to us surprisingly contemporary rational reconstruction of the claims in the “Athanasian Creed.” Did he convince his fellow Anglicans that the “Athanasian Creed” is, after all, self-consistent?

We’ll also look briefly at a sort of defense of the “Athanasian Creed” by minister, apologist, and patristic scholar Daniel Waterland ( 1683 – 1740). Following some ancient sources, he is a mysterian, though he offers a defense of its notorious damnatory clauses.

In this battle of the powdered wigs, we also discuss Samuel Clarke‘s (1675 – 1729) arguments for removing the Creed from the Anglican liturgy, as well as arguments based on the ecumenical councils.

Is this “Creed” one you accept as authoritative? Let us know what you think.

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Links for this episode:

• Sherlock’s book: pdf, reprint.
• Waterland’s A Critical History of the Athanasian Creed, from Volume III of his Works: pdf, reprint.
• Clarke’s Scripture-Doctrine of the Trinity: pdf of first, 1712 ed, reprint of the 4th ed. and follow up writings.
• This guy does an OK job explaining mysterianism about the Trinity.
• Dixon’s account of the controversy started by Nye, and whipped into a flame by Sherlock.
• Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils ; or the relevant statements from Ephesus and Chalcedon.