A quadrilateral is a four-sided figure. It is applied to a method of theological reflection that draws on four sources, namely Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Christian Experience.
It is called the Wesleyan Quadrilateral because it is credited to John Wesley. However, the Anglican Church already was using three of these: Scripture, Tradition, and Reason. John Wesley rightly added Christian Experience.
Forrest Quadrilateral
I accept these four sources as well, buty formulation is different. Unlike John Wesley, I do not place Scripture above the other three. Rather, in my view they all are of equal authority.
The truth is the goal of theological reflection. We are looking for claims that best correspond to reality. Reality is evidenced through Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Christian Experience.
By reason I am including not only logical reasoning, but science, history, and modern scholarship. Christian Experience includes mystical experiences as well as general experiences of living.
When Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Christian Experience agree, you have truth. The clearer the agreement the more confident we can be that we have discovered the truth.
No Absolute Certainty
However, just like Paul, we will always know in part and look through a mirror dimly. Absolute certainty can never be achieved. Only the ignorant and the arrogant will claim absolute certainty. The best we can hope for is feeling sure.
Feeling sure is not the same as philosophical certainty. Feeling sure is a mental state, philosophical certainty is a logical conclusion. We should not confuse the two. We can feel safe, secure and certain, without claiming absolute certainty. For we could always be wrong. That is a logical deduction based upon our finite and limited cognition.
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