Conservatism

• What is conservatism?

  Follow a traditional, 'literal' interpretation of the Bible
• What are the types of conservatism?

  Evangelical Protestantism and Catholicism
• What do evangelical Protestants believe about the bible?


  - 'all scripture is inspired by God'

  - God has dictated the Bible

  - the bible is literally true

  - belief in inerrancy
• What do the creationists believe (part of evangelical Protestants)?

  Genesis is the exact account of how God created the world
• What do catholics believe about the bible?

  - scripture is God's speech put down in writing under the power of the Holy Spirit

  - tradition of Jesus' teaching is a living tradition. Still open to understanding and interpretation today

  - scripture and tradition are of equal standing

  - rules are written in the catechism
• What is apostolic tradition?

  Tradition that stems from Jesus and his apostles. His apostles pass his story on to other believers
• What is apostolic succession?

  Jesus' apostles appointed bishops to be their successors who were also given teaching authority. They pass the story on for generations
• Who interprets the Bible according to catholics?

  The magisterium - pope and bishops