Once the Church had privileged epistemology over its canonical heritage, its theologians were drawn inescapably into solving problems in the epistemology of theology and into developing fitting material theological proposals. Schleiermacher, the founder of Liberal Protestantism, opted for religious experience as the foundation of faith and allowed only that which could be grounded in the religious affections. He rejected the Old Testament canon and reworked the conception of the New Testament canon as a norm of Christian identity. The doctrine of the Trinity became strictly optional.

Once the Church had privileged epistemology over its canonical heritage, its theologians were drawn inescapably into solving problems in the epistemology of theology and into developing fitting material theological proposals. Schleiermacher, the founder of Liberal Protestantism, opted for religious experience as the foundation of faith and allowed only that which could be grounded in the religious affections. He rejected the Old Testament canon and reworked the conception of the New Testament canon as a norm of Christian identity. The doctrine of the Trinity became strictly optional.