[T]his ancient friendship is still pure, Orthodox, and
incorrupted." (17) Here, the Cavalier soldier explains how friendship can be understood as a kind of institutionalized belief system with its own "rites" and "ceremonies." Much like the Anglican Church currently under threat, the "Religion of Friendship" can only remain "pure, Orthodox, and
incorrupted" while its rituals are dedicatedly observed: the neglect of ceremony threatens to rupture the whole structure.
Since the publication of Sullivan's analysis, scholars have accepted his conclusion that the surviving writings of Theodore are unquestionably
incorrupted.(4) Besides authenticating these texts, Sullivan also reexamined them to ascertain how orthodox was Theodore's teaching.