The Meaning of Tradition
by Yves Congar, Avery Cardinal Dulles
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Book Summary Information
Author: Avery Cardinal Dulles, Yves CongarBrand: Ignatius Press
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); French (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-11-30
ISBN: 158617021X
Number of pages: 172
Publisher: Ignatius Pr
Book Reviews of The Meaning of Tradition
Book Review: A Clear and Easy to Understand Text
Summary: 4 Stars
I must admit that I came to this text a Protestant with just a little knowledge of the Roman Catholic view of Tradtion. However, I am a frustrated Protestant since I firmly believe that my fellow Protestants have either ignored tradtion or have dismissed it altogether simply becasue it is a "Roman Catholic teaching."
Congar's book is a very well written text, quite easy to follow and can be read by anyone from a simple lay person with no background knowledge to a well educated individual who has studied the issues for years. Having read this book I now have a much better understanding of Tradition and a better understanding where Roman Catholics and Protestans differ in this issue. Let me summarize a few of these differences in this review.
At the end of chapter three Congar summarizes Tradition by declaring, "Tradition signifies, then, the Catholic spirit together with the living manner in which the whole apostolic deposit, whose subject is the Church, is transmitted." This is clearly a summation of Congar's overall view of Tradition, but is very telling and important for Protestants to grasp. Congar teaches that all the essential elements or features of Tradition are norms for the Church to in fact be the Church. This means Catholics begin with the reality in which Christianity is presented in history from Christ to the present day and how this reality is manifested in and through the Church is the underlining factor of the overall deposit presented to the Church by the apostles. Therefore, Scripture and Tradition are of equal authority. Congar confirms this when he declares, "And its real significance, to which the continuity of tradition bears witness, is that no article of the Church's belief is held on the authority of Scripture independently of tradition, and none on the authority of tradition independently of Scripture." (p.43)
Granted, Congar's remarks reflect a classic Catholic view of Scripture and tradition working together; there is reason, as Protestants, to be a bit cautious about this assertion. The reason for caution can be clearly seen historically in that the Roman Catholic Church, time and again, has placed Tradition over and against Scriptures repeatedly when deciding certain seemingly important issues not delineated in Scripture (e.g. Purgatory, Immaculate Conception of Mary, infallibility of the Pope/Magisterium, etc.) Congar confirms this notion when he declares, "Scripture and tradition do not have the same function; tradition envelops and transcends Scripture. It is more complete and could be self-sufficient." (p. 101, emphasis mine) This statement certainly seems to contradict Congar's previous assertion that tradition and Scripture cannot have independent authority from or over each other. I think the Catholic Church has much to answer for here, as most Protestants would perhaps agree.
With respect to Congar's work, I believe it was very helpful for me, as a Protestant, to understand more fully the place of tradition in Christendom. Albeit, I think there are some very strong differences between Catholics and Protestants that are warranted (mind you I am Protestant and think certain things need to be accounted for in the issue of Tradtion), but I have come to the conclusion that Protestans perhaps dismiss Tradition too quickly without understanding how it has helped to develop the essential doctrines that we as Protestants hold to (i.e. The Trinity, The deity of Christ, the actual Canon of the Bible, etc.).
I give Congar's book 4 stars based on my own disagreements with certain Catholic doctrines and how they are viewed via Tradition, but as a text on/about Tradition, I give the book five stars and think Protestants would do well to read it.
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