On doctrine

Roger Olsen: How Essential is Doctrine to Christianity 

 What is this new development of which I speak here, now? It is the rise of a basically, perhaps essentially, non-cognitive Christianity in America—across denominations.  To be sure, there are still some holdouts, some denominations and churches that emphasize a cognitive Christianity with robust beliefs. Overall, however, I am certain that the vast majority of American Christian churches downplay doctrine. For them, doctrines exists as historical relics or as background beliefs occasionally brought forth for some reason, but rarely are they treated as essential to Christian identity, even for adults who have been Christians most of their lives.