Anglican Via Media?

Last updated on: December 24, 2014 at 8:31 am by Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Anglican Via Media? 2014-12-24T08:31:14-05:00 Fr. Dwight Longenecker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Have you heard of the Anglican via media? This is the idea that Anglicanism is the ‘middle way’ between Catholicism and Protestantism. The concept is often extended to mean that Anglicanism is the ‘middle way’ between many different extremes. It is the way of compromise, the way of common sense, the way of ‘dual integrities’.

I used to be attracted to this theory. It seemed a very creative way to deal with the tensions of Catholicism and Protestantism within Anglican history. However, Cardinal Newman observed that the Anglican via media was never anything more than an idea. A via media might work in politics where utilitarianism is the rule, but it cannot work in the realm of religion. Religion demands choice. You have to take one road or the other. You can certainly be tolerant towards the other side, but it is impossible to walk a via media for very long.

This was my experience within Anglicanism. I wished to follow the via media. To put it in positive terms, I wanted to be an Evangelical, Charismatic, Catholic Liberal. I wanted to embrace the good things from all four of these traditions, and proceeded in my ministry to do just that through the design of worship, spirituality, catechesis and pastoral ministry. There were two problems. The first problem is that the religion that resulted was a religion of my own concoction. It wasn’t truly Charismatic, Evangelical or Catholic. Instead it was a tossed salad made from my own choice from the ecclesiastical salad bar.

The second problem is no one else really wanted to join the Church of Dwight. The other Anglican clergy and the laypeople too, were not interested in any sort of imaginary via media. Nor were they interested in Dwight’s particular pick ‘n’ mix religion. They wanted to be Anglo Catholic or Evangelical or Charismatic or Liberal. They wanted to choose one path–not dabble about with a little of each.

They were right. You have to either choose a tradition to belong to or make up your own mixture which then becomes your tradition. That’s why Cardinal Newman said that the via media is nothing more than a theological theory. Where do you actualy find the via media? It doesn’t exist. It’s not real. What you really find are Anglicans and Anglican churches that are either a self made mix of traditions or you find Evangelical, Anglo Catholic, Charismatic or Liberal Anglicans and congregations.

Anglicans around the world are at a turning point right now. With the issues in their church they must decide. They may wish desperately to cling to the idea of a via media but it is not possible because it was never possible. They must ask themselves where such an idea of a via media comes from in the first place. It certainly doesn’t come from Scripture. Scriptures are clear from Joshua who cries out, “Choose you this day whom you will serve!” to the gospels which talk of two paths–the narrow way that leads to life and the broad way that leads to destruction. There’s no talk of an easy middle way of compromise, indecision and dithering. With such an image we have to ask, is the via media a middle way or just another term or the broad way?

In the end, of course, I was led to make a choice. I chose the old paths. I chose the big old one: the Catholic faith. The ironic and providential thing is that I had tried to create a religion that was Evangelical, Charismatic, Catholic and Liberal.

When I became a Catholic I discovered exactly the Church I had tried so hard to create myself.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

July 3, 2007

The Benedictine Way - 4

Next Post

July 4, 2007 Independence Day

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Anglican Matters Apologetics Architecture Blobble Study Book Reviews Brideshead Caitlin O'Rourke Catholic Art Catholic Culture Church Politics Chust for Nice Contemporary Culture Duane Mandible Ed Blanch Film Reviews Fr Harvey Nicolaitan Frank Viola Mantilla the Hon More Christianity Mrs Brady Catholic Old Lady Mystery of the Magi Norman Anderson Queen Hillary Saints and Supernatural Spirituality The Inklings The Vicar Theology Todd Unctuous Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz