The Background to ‘Believing Criticism’ in the Free Church of Scotland

This article argues that the introduction of ‘believing criticism’ in the Free Church of Scotland in the 19th century was not just a sudden development in the 1870s. Rather, the seeds of it go back much further, even to the Disruption itself. Some inappropriate decisions of the Free Church General A...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Harman, Allan M. 1936- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: 2022
In: Reformed theological review
Year: 2022, Volume: 81, Issue: 3, Pages: 202-227
IxTheo Classification:KAH Church history 1648-1913; modern history
KBF British Isles
KBS Australia; Oceania
KDD Protestant Church
Further subjects:B The Free Church of Scotland
B The Disruption
B 19th Century
B A. B. Davidson
B The Church of Scotland
B Believing criticism
B William Robertson Smith
B Liberalism
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Summary:This article argues that the introduction of ‘believing criticism’ in the Free Church of Scotland in the 19th century was not just a sudden development in the 1870s. Rather, the seeds of it go back much further, even to the Disruption itself. Some inappropriate decisions of the Free Church General Assembly, among other factors, paved the way for A. B. Davidson to commence lecturing on Pentateuchal criticism. His student, William Robert Smith, was not so discreet, and openly espoused views that departed from the teaching of the Westminster Confession of Faith. Dealing with him took several years, until he was relieved of his position in 1881, though not deposed from the ministry. By that time, ‘believing criticism’ was firmly entrenched in the Free Church.
ISSN:0034-3072
Contains:Enthalten in: Reformed theological review
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.53521/a330