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Theology

Sola Scriptura

The Protestant doctrine that the Bible alone is the sole infallible rule of faith and practice for Christians.

One of the five *solas* of the Reformation. Sola Scriptura asserts that Scripture is self-authenticating, sufficient for doctrine, and does not require authoritative interpretation by Church Tradition or Magisterium.

**Critique from Orthodoxy:** The Bible itself does not teach Sola Scriptura (making the doctrine potentially self-refuting). The biblical canon was defined by Church councils — relying on Tradition to determine which books are Scripture.

**Protestant response:** Scripture's authority is self-evident to the regenerate believer through the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit.

This is one of the most contested intra-Christian debates and a prime candidate for Debby's mapping system.

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