Oecumene in het Midden-Oosten

Abstract

Ecumenism in the Middle-East Same historical investigations (eighth-thirteenth centuries) The author discusses, for the period of roughly the Abbasid Caliphate, three different mentalities regarding ecumenism. Firstly, the attitude that the absolute norm for truth can be found only in one’s own ecclesiastical community; other Christians can only be regarded as heretics. No attempt is made to understand their theology. Secondly, the attitude that on the basis of rational arguments one tries to enter into a respectful dialogue with other Christians, be it that ultimately truth is still thought to be present only in the own community. Thirdly, the relativization of one’s traditional theological terminology, which opens the way to finding validity also in the theological expression of ‘other’ Christians. The third attitude is mainly, but not exclusively, found in Christian Arabic texts. It seems a logical, further step in the process that Christians in the Middle East, from the ninth century onwards, made extensive use of a philosophical method and argumentation rather than that it would be due to a Muslim environment.