Ecumenical Movement

Ecumenical Movement

Introduction

The modern attempt to represent liturgical and doctrinal differences as peripheral, in comparison with the defining belief in Christ crucified, has seemed to some to herald the resumption of true Christian belief, to others to indicate only that Christian belief has ceased very much to matter, even to those who profess it. It has often been argued that the strongest religious sentiments emerge in hostilities between those who are united in all beliefs except one or two irrational embellishments, and that the cessation of hostilities is brought about only by the loss of the metaphysical assumptions that made them possible. On this view it is to be expected that the ecumenical movement within Christianity, unlike the continuing conflict between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims, presages the political decline of religious doctrine.

Thesis statement

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the movement of ecumenical. Ecumenical Movement was a movement within the Christian churches towards a visible union of all believers in Christ. While a permanent feature of Christianity (enshrined in the idea of a 'catholic' church), the movement has been a major force only since the division within the church at the Reformation, and took its principal modern impetus from the World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh in 1910.

Discussion and Analysis

Ecumenicalism, the friendship and cooperation among differing religious groups and faiths, has a long and rich history. The varied trends in ecumenical thought and action can be traced to the various understandings of the word itself. “Ecumenism” originates from the Greek noun oikoumene, “the inhabited earth” or “the whole world,” and the adjective “oikoumenikos,” understood as “ecumenical.” There are few biblical passages that use the word oikoumene. The 15 references to oikoumene are all found in the New Testament; interpretations of each use and its significance vary.

With so few references, the purpose and function of ecumenicalism has been derived mostly from applications of the term. During the fourth century CE, oikoumene often referred to the Christian empire under Roman rule. Ecumenical councils gathered periodically to discuss the state of the Christian faith within the Roman Empire and to settle disputes among Christian groups. Both Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions are considered to have continued this trend with their own ecumenical councils. Similarly, early creeds, such as the Nicene or the Apostles' Creed, are generally considered ecumenical because they are widely accepted by Christians. Since these early instances, the term largely fell out of use until the 19th century, when Christians became increasingly concerned with divisions in doctrine and polity among Christians around the world. From this concern, the modern ecumenical movement was born.

The modern ecumenical movement was and is the pursuit of reconciliation among various Christian groups, including the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant faiths. As a result, much of the history of ecumenicalism pertains to Christians working together for the “church universal,” or a single Christian church. More recently, however, common parlance often equates “ecumenical” with increased interaction and unity among world religions through interfaith dialogue ...