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Anglican theology is based on the Anglican faith and emphasizes informed intellectual dialogue between scriptures and current members of the Church. It has roots in both Catholic and Protestant beliefs, with a less hierarchical model of authority and a great deal of heterodoxy. Anglicans value individual and congregational autonomy, and recognize the importance of change in understanding religious truth.
Anglican theology is the set of beliefs that underlie religious life and the practice of the Anglican faith. This theology was initially almost identical to that of the Catholic Church, but developed in different directions in the following years. Most Anglican theology emphasizes the role of informed intellectual dialogue between the original scriptures and current members of the Church. Typical is a measured and rational approach to understanding the divine and much latitude is given to individual believers and congregations.
The Anglican Church was born for reasons that have much more to do with politics than religion. Henry VIII created the church by decree in the course of disputes with the Papacy. Initially, the Anglican Church adopted a theology that was a hybrid of Catholic and Protestant beliefs with the King of England as the head of the Church.
Key features of Catholic doctrine survive in modern Anglican theology. Anglicans believe scriptures have spiritual authority. They see themselves as spiritual descendants of the original apostles and emphasize the importance of early church councils in shaping religious doctrine and practice. They also believe in the importance of both baptism and communion as sacraments, although they take a more Protestant line in relegating practices such as marriage to a non-sacramental position.
Other aspects of Anglican theology are less reminiscent of Catholic belief and practice. A crucial area of difference is in the nature of the hierarchy within the church. Anglican theology does not follow the same strict, hierarchical model of authority that is central to Catholic religious practice. Furthermore, the Anglican Church also lacks a single clear statement of faith, allowing a great deal of heterodoxy to flourish within the Church. Belief in the importance of careful interpretation of scripture rather than literal reading further emphasizes the role of individual and congregational autonomy.
Anglicans are among the most tolerant and diverse of faith communities, and this diversity is manifest in Anglican theology. Specific congregations are free to follow their conscience. The Church generally recognizes that human understanding of religious truth and scriptures should emerge from interactions between scriptures and the real world, and that change in other areas of human knowledge and endeavor should naturally change the interpretation and understanding of scriptures. This flexibility gives Anglican theology great flexibility, but at the same time makes it difficult to define specific Anglican beliefs in many areas as groups differ in their understanding of even such important principles as the true nature of the Eucharist.
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