Theological Tenacity

🕰️ Emergence of the Term

The term "confessionalism" itself gained currency in the mid-19th century. However, the underlying phenomenon and the concept of "confession" (referring to individual and collective belief) are considerably older. Historically, the term "confession" primarily denoted documents of belief, such as the Confessio Augustana. Religious communities were typically referred to as "religious parties," "religions," or "churches" rather than "confessions" during the 16th and 17th centuries.

📜 Evolution of "Confession"

By the late 18th century, the term "confession" began to encompass religious bodies sharing a common creed. The Wöllner and Prussian Religious Edict of 1788 is cited as an early instance. The Congress of Vienna in 1815 still did not widely employ the term for distinct Christian denominations. The application of "confession" to different groups, while implying a degree of civil progress and tolerance, paradoxically fueled new conflicts, such as the Cologne conflict of 1837 over mixed marriages. Notably, the Roman Catholic Church historically resisted being categorized merely as a "confession."

🌍 The "Confessional Age"

Historians, notably Ernst Troeltsch, refer to the Early Modern period (16th-17th centuries) as a "confessional age," characterized by intense "confessionalization." This era saw the solidification of distinct theological and institutional identities, including Lutheran orthodoxy, Reformed scholasticism, Tridentine-era Catholicism, and Anglicanism defined by the Thirty-nine Articles. Intra-Christian dialogue during this period, seen in colloquies like Regensburg and Marburg, grappled extensively with confessional differences.

🔄 The Second Confessional Age

A "second confessional age," spanning roughly from the early 19th century to the mid-20th century, witnessed a resurgence and significant impact of confessionalism on European social and political history. This period saw the term "confessionalism" appear in dictionaries, denoting internal Protestant conflicts (e.g., orthodoxy versus "living" Protestantism), inter-denominational disputes, and the heightened emphasis on religious identity. The Catholic Staatslexikon defined it in 1959 as the endeavor to defend religious doctrine against indifferentism, while also acknowledging its potential for overemphasizing confessional differences, particularly in the public sphere.

🤝 Modern Manifestations

While confessionalism holds minor relevance in contemporary European state churches, it remains significant in certain free church traditions. For instance, denominations like the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church and the Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church mandate a quia subscription to the Book of Concord, classifying them as Confessional Lutheran. Similarly, groups emerging from the Confessing Movement, finding theological liberalism untenable within Mainline Protestant denominations, established separate Confessional Churches and Denominations to maintain orthodox doctrine.

🏛️ Governance and Faith

The concept of confessionalism extends into political structures, notably in the idea of a Confessional state, where a specific religion is officially recognized and supported by the government. This contrasts with principles like Caesaropapism (where the secular ruler holds supreme authority over the church) and the Separation of church and state, which advocates for distinct spheres of influence.

👑 Authority and Doctrine

Related concepts include Divine rule, the belief that ultimate authority resides with God, and State religion, where a particular religion is established by law. These concepts, alongside the notion of Elite religion (which may focus on specific doctrines or practices accessible to a select group), intersect with confessionalism in discussions about religious authority, identity, and societal structure.

📜 References