Adiaphora

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Adiaphoron (/ædɪˈæfərɒn, ædiˈæfərɒn/;[1][2] plural: adiaphora; from the Greek ἀδιάφορον (pl. ἀδιάφορα), meaning "not different or differentiable")[3] is the negation of διαφορά diaphora, "difference".

In Ancient Greek philosophy

Part of a series on
Pyrrhonism
Pyrrhonists
Concepts
Similar philosophies
Modern influence
 Philosophy portal

In Cynicism, adiaphora represents indifference to the vicissitudes of life through ascetic practices which help one become free from influences – such as wealth, fame, and power – that have no value in nature.[citation needed] Examples include Diogenes' practice of living in a tub and walking barefoot in winter.[citation needed]

Similarly, the

morals.[4] In the context of Stoicism adiaphora is usually translated as "indifference".[citation needed
]

Unlike in Stoicism and Cynicism, In Pyrrhonism adiaphora has no specific connection to morality, but indicates things that cannot be logically differentiated,[5] while Aristotle uses "adiaphora" to mean "undifferentiated by a logical διαφορά/differentia."

Christianity

In Christianity, adiaphora are matters not regarded as essential to faith, but nevertheless as permissible for Christians or allowed by the church. What is specifically considered adiaphora depends on the specific theology in view.

Lutheranism

See also: Law and Gospel and Antinomianism § Lutheranism

The issue of what constituted adiaphora became a major dispute during the

justification by faith as a fundamental doctrine. Later he was persuaded to accept a compromise known as the Leipzig Interim, deciding that doctrinal differences not related to justification by faith were adiaphora or matters not essential for salvation. Melanchthon's compromise was vehemently opposed by Matthias Flacius and his followers in Magdeburg, who went to the opposite extreme by claiming that adiaphora cease to be such in a case of scandal and confession. By 1576 both extremes were rejected by the majority of Lutherans led by Martin Chemnitz and the formulators of the Formula of Concord
.

In 1577, the Formula of Concord was crafted to settle the question of the nature of genuine adiaphora, which it defined as church rites that are "neither commanded nor forbidden in the Word of God".

example needed] when these are being forced upon them by the "enemies of God's Word".[7]

The Lutheran Augsburg Confession states that the true unity of the Church is enough to allow for agreement, concerning the doctrine of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments. It also posits that merely human traditions, namely extrabiblical rites or ceremonies, need not be the same across all congregations.

Puritanism

The

Anglicans, distinguishes between elements or acts of worship (worship proper) and the circumstances of worship. The elements of worship must be limited to what has positive warrant in Scripture, a doctrine known as the regulative principle of worship
. In this framework, the elements of worship have included praise (the words and manner of music), prayer, preaching and teaching from the Bible, the taking of vows, and the two sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper, while the circumstances of worship have included the building and its necessary furniture and the time of day for worship.

The circumstances of worship are considered adiaphora, although they must be done for edification and to promote peace and order (compare 1 Corinthians 14:26–33; Romans 14:19). According to the Westminster Confession 20.2,[8] the conscience is left free in general belief and behavior within the realm of whatever is not "contrary to the Word". However, specifically concerning worship and religious faith, the conscience is free from whatever is "besides" Scripture; that is, it is free to worship and believe only according to whatever has positive warrant in Scripture.

musical instruments and of the singing of hymns (as opposed to exclusive psalmody) not drawn directly from the Bible as related to the elements of worship, not optional circumstances, and for this reason they rejected musical instruments and hymns because they believed they were neither commanded by scripture nor deduced by good and necessary consequence from it.[9][10][11]
Adherence to such a position is rare among modern Presbyterians, however.

The Puritan position on worship is thus in line with the common saying regarding adiaphora: "In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity".

Latitudinarianism in Anglicanism

Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity
, that God cares about the moral state of the individual soul and that such things as church leadership are "things indifferent". However, they took the position far beyond Hooker's own and extended it to doctrinal matters.

See also

  • Evangelical counsels – Chastity, poverty (perfect charity) and obedience
  • Heterodoxy – Opinions or practices which vary from official positions
  • Ikhtilaf – Scholarly disagreement in Islamic law
  • Lex orandi, lex credendi. – Principle of the relationship between belief and prayer in Christian tradition
  • Mubah – Islamic jurisprudential term denoting an action that has no specific ruling, similar to the Stoic meaning of Adiaphora
  • Orthodoxy – Adherence to the actual accepted belief, especially in religion
  • Modern Stoicism
     – Philosophical system
  • Theologoumenon – Statement lacking absolute doctrinal authority

References

  1. ^ "adiaphoron". Oxford Dictionaries. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
  2. ^ "Adiaphoron". Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
  3. Perseus Project
  4. ^ The New American Cyclopaedia, 1859, p. 124.
  5. ^ Bett, Richard (2018). "Pyrrho". In Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University – via Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
  6. ^ Lueker, Erwin L.; Poellot, Luther; Jackson, Paul, eds. (2000). "Adiaphora". Christian Cyclopedia. Concordia. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  7. ^ "X. Church Rites, Commonly Called Adiaphora". The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  8. ^ "XX", Westminster Confession of Faith with proofs, Reformed.
  9. ^ Schwertley, Brian. "Sola Scripture and the Regulative Principles of Worship". Reformed Online. Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  10. ^ Schwertley, Brian. "Musical Instruments in the Public Worship of God". Reformed Online. Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  11. ^ Schwertley, Brian. "Exclusive Psalmody: A Biblical Defense". Reformed Online. Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2007-06-23..

Bibliography

Further reading

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adiaphora&oldid=1204919308"