Latitudinarianism

In the 17th century a term for Anglican Christians who were still members of the Church of England, but whose ideals were focused on moderation and tolerance. They stood against orthodoxy and religious extremes, which included issues of dogmatic truth, church organization, and liturgical practice. These ideas were derived from the concepts of Ralph Cudworth and the Cambridge Platonists.

Latitudinarianism developed after the religious conflicts and civil wars of the 17th century, especially after the Restoration. For instance, Samuel Pepys noted in 1669 that Dr Wilkins, bishop of Chester, was ‘a mighty, rising man, as being a Latitudinarian’.

Some members of the High Church argued against Latitudinarianism, believing that this attitude could lead to deism (the acknowledgement of God’s existence but rejection of religion) or mere negligence.

Sources:

"deist." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Ed. Hoad, T. F., Oxford University Press, January 01, 2003, Oxford Reference, http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780192830982.001.0001/acref-9780192830982-e-4032, accessed 3 June 2009.

"Latitudinarianism." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, Ed. Livingstone, E. A., Oxford University Press, January 01, 2006, Oxford Reference, http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198614425.001.0001/acref-9780198614425-e-3341, accessed 3 June 2009.

Cannon, J. A. "latitudinarianism." The Oxford Companion to British History, Oxford University Press, January 01, 2009, Oxford Reference, http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199567638.001.0001/acref-9780199567638-e-2504, accessed 3 June 2009.

Further Reading:

Griffin, Martin I. J.: Latitudinarianism in the seventeenth century Church of England. Leiden [et al]: Brill 1992. (Brill's Studies in Intellectual History, 32)