A Book of Discipline or Book of Order is a book detailing the beliefs, practices, doctrines, laws, organisational structure and government of many Christian denominations. They are often re-written by the governing body of the church concerned due to changes in society and the church.
Examples of books of discipline include:
- Book of Discipline of the Church of Scotland and Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland
- Most organisations of Presbyterian churches have their own Book of Discipline
- Book of Discipline for the United Methodist Church.
- Book of Discipline of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) - each Yearly Meeting (national organisation of Quakers) publishes its own Book of Discipline, which may be titled the Book of Discipline or Faith and Practice or some other name.
Famous quotes containing the words book of, book and/or discipline:
“I know every book of mine by its smell, and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things.”
—George Gissing (1857–1903)
“If the book is good, is about something that you know, and is truly written, and reading it over you see that this is so, you can let the boys yip and the noise will have that pleasant sound coyotes make on a very cold night when they are out in the snow and you are in your own cabin that you have built or paid for with your work.”
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961)
“Do you know what Agelisas said, when he was asked why the great city of Lacedomonie was not girded with walls? Because, pointing out the inhabitants and citizens of the city, so expert in military discipline and so strong and well armed: “Here,” he said, “are the walls of the city,” meaning that there is no wall but of bones, and that towns and cities can have no more secure nor stronger wall than the virtue of their citizens and inhabitants.”
—François Rabelais (1494–1553)