ABSTRACT
Christianity is commonly supposed to be a dogmatic religion. Dogmatism in theology may be defined as the authoritative statement of opinions claiming to be supernaturally revealed, and not otherwise obtainable, on the acceptance of which salvation is said to depend. There are two large classes of dogmatists in Christendom, each including several varieties, which, nevertheless, are agreed upon the dogmatic principle. Both schools of dogmatists believe that on the acceptance of these metaphysical subtleties depends our everlasting welfare. Most of them regard moral conduct as the result of creed, and of secondary importance thereto. The extreme members such as Calvinists, Antinomians, Mystics, attach no importance whatever to practice, even considering good works a stumbling-block and an occasion of falling. The change from primitive Christianity to a metaphysical system began early. Mankind speedily erected a standard of belief, first by the side of, then above and finally in some cases instead of, that of conduct.
