Christianity - Ecumenism, 20th Century, Unity

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[{"p":154,"t":115240},{"p":11,"t":303091},{"p":1,"t":64396},{"p":1,"t":175759},{"p":29,"t":507284},{"p":21,"t":479892},{"p":15,"t":177174},{"p":5,"t":590855},{"p":1,"t":175749},{"p":1,"t":99796}], "sequence": 153, "topics": {} }); </script> <article class="article-content container-lg qa-content px-0 pt-0 pb-40 py-lg-20 content md-expanded" data-topic-id="115240"> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christianity">Christianity</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/topic/Christianity">Introduction</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref67408"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity#ref67408">The church and its history</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67409"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity#ref67409">The essence and identity of Christianity</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67410" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Historical-views-of-the-essence">Historical views of the essence</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67411"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Historical-views-of-the-essence#ref67411">Early views</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67412"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Medieval-and-Reformation-views">Medieval and Reformation views</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67413"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Modern-views">Modern views</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67414"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-question-of-Christian-identity">The question of Christian identity</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67415"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-history-of-Christianity">The history of Christianity</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67416" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-history-of-Christianity#ref67416">The primitive church</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67417"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-history-of-Christianity#ref67417">The relation of the early church to late Judaism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67418"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-relation-of-the-early-church-to-the-career-and-intentions-of-Jesus">The relation of the early church to the career and intentions of Jesus</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67419"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Gentile-mission-and-St-Paul">The Gentile mission and St. Paul</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67420"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-contemporary-social-religious-and-intellectual-world">The contemporary social, religious, and intellectual world</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67421" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-internal-development-of-the-early-Christian-church">The internal development of the early Christian church</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67422"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-internal-development-of-the-early-Christian-church#ref67422">The problem of jurisdictional authority</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67423"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-problem-of-scriptural-authority">The problem of scriptural authority</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67424"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-problem-of-scriptural-authority#ref67424">The problem of theological authority</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67425"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Early-heretical-movements">Early heretical movements</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67426" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Relations-between-Christianity-and-the-Roman-government-and-the-Hellenistic-culture">Relations between Christianity and the Roman government and the Hellenistic culture</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67427"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Relations-between-Christianity-and-the-Roman-government-and-the-Hellenistic-culture#ref67427">Church-state relations</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67428"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Relations-between-Christianity-and-the-Roman-government-and-the-Hellenistic-culture#ref67428">Christianity and Classical culture</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67429"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Relations-between-Christianity-and-the-Roman-government-and-the-Hellenistic-culture#ref67429">The Apologists</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67430"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-early-liturgy-the-calendar-and-the-arts">The early liturgy, the calendar, and the arts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67431"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-alliance-between-church-and-empire">The alliance between church and empire</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67432" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Theological-controversies-of-the-4th-and-5th-centuries">Theological controversies of the 4th and 5th centuries</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67433"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Theological-controversies-of-the-4th-and-5th-centuries#ref67433">Western controversies</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67434"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Theological-controversies-of-the-4th-and-5th-centuries#ref67434">Eastern controversies</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67436" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Liturgy-and-the-arts-after-Constantine">Liturgy and the arts after Constantine</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67437"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Liturgy-and-the-arts-after-Constantine#ref67437">New forms of worship</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67438"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Liturgy-and-the-arts-after-Constantine#ref67438">Historical and polemical writing</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67439"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Political-relations-between-East-and-West">Political relations between East and West</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67440"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Literature-and-art-of-the-Dark-Ages">Literature and art of the “Dark Ages”</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67441"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Missions-and-monasticism">Missions and monasticism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67442" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Photian-schism-and-the-great-East-West-schism">The Photian schism and the great East-West schism</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67443"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Photian-schism-and-the-great-East-West-schism#ref67443">The Photian schism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67444"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Photian-schism-and-the-great-East-West-schism#ref67444">The great East-West schism</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67445"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/From-the-schism-to-the-Reformation">From the schism to the Reformation</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67446"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/From-the-schism-to-the-Reformation#ref67446">Papacy and empire</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67447"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/From-the-schism-to-the-Reformation#ref67447">Medieval thought</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67448"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/From-the-schism-to-the-Reformation#ref67448">Reformation</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67449"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Christianity-from-the-16th-to-the-21st-century">Christianity from the 16th to the 21st century</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67450"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Contemporary-Christianity">Contemporary Christianity</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67451"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Contemporary-Christianity#ref67451">Roman Catholicism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67454" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Eastern-churches">The Eastern churches</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref340022"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Eastern-churches#ref340022">Eastern Orthodoxy</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref340023"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Eastern-churches#ref340023">Oriental Orthodoxy</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67455" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Protestantism">Protestantism</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67456"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Protestantism#ref67456">Lutheranism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67457"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Protestantism#ref67457">Anglicanism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67458"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Presbyterian-and-Reformed-churches">Presbyterian and Reformed churches</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67459"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Presbyterian-and-Reformed-churches#ref67459">Other Protestant churches</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67461"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Christian-doctrine">Christian doctrine</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260789"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Christian-doctrine#ref260789">The nature and functions of doctrine</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260790"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Scripture-and-tradition-the-apostolic-witness">Scripture and tradition: the apostolic witness</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260791"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Evangelism-the-first-teaching-about-the-God-of-Jesus-Christ">Evangelism: the first teaching about the God of Jesus Christ</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260792"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Catechesis-instructing-candidates-for-baptism">Catechesis: instructing candidates for baptism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260793"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Liturgy-the-school-and-feast-of-faith">Liturgy: the school and feast of faith</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260794"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Ethics-obeying-the-truth">Ethics: obeying the truth</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260795"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Aversion-of-heresy-the-establishment-of-orthodoxy">Aversion of heresy: the establishment of orthodoxy</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260796"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Apologetics-defending-the-faith">Apologetics: defending the faith</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260797"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Restatement-respecting-language-and-knowledge">Restatement: respecting language and knowledge</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260798"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Inculturation-respecting-places-and-peoples">Inculturation: respecting places and peoples</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260799"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Dogma-the-most-authoritative-teaching">Dogma: the most authoritative teaching</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260800"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Consensus-patterns-of-agreement">Consensus: patterns of agreement</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260801"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Theology-loving-God-with-the-mind">Theology: loving God with the mind</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260802"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Symbolics-creeds-and-confessions">Symbolics: creeds and confessions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260803"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Development-the-maturation-of-understanding">Development: the maturation of understanding</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260804"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Schism-division-over-substantial-matters">Schism: division over substantial matters</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref260805"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Controversy-fighting-over-the-faith">Controversy: fighting over the faith</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref276591"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Ecumenism-speaking-the-truth-in-love">Ecumenism: speaking the truth in love</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67465"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/God-the-Father">God the Father</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67466"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Characteristic-features-of-the-Christian-concept-of-God">Characteristic features of the Christian concept of God</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67467"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Characteristic-features-of-the-Christian-concept-of-God#ref67467">The specific concept of God as Father</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67468"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-belief-in-the-oneness-of-the-Father-and-the-Son">The belief in the oneness of the Father and the Son</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67469"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-revelatory-character-of-God">The revelatory character of God</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67470"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/God-as-Creator-Sustainer-and-Judge">God as Creator, Sustainer, and Judge</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67471"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-view-that-God-is-not-solitary">The view that God is not solitary</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67472"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Modern-views-of-God">Modern views of God</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67473"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Satan-and-the-origin-of-evil">Satan and the origin of evil</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67474"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Satan-and-the-origin-of-evil#ref67474">God the Son</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67475"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Satan-and-the-origin-of-evil#ref67475">Different interpretations of the person of Jesus</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67476"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Christological-controversies">The Christological controversies</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67477"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Messianic-views">Messianic views</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67478"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-doctrine-of-the-Virgin-Mary-and-holy-Wisdom">The doctrine of the Virgin Mary and holy Wisdom</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67479"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/God-the-Holy-Spirit">God the Holy Spirit</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67480"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/God-the-Holy-Spirit#ref67480">Contradictory aspects of the Holy Spirit</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67481"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Conflict-between-order-and-charismatic-freedom">Conflict between order and charismatic freedom</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67482"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-operations-of-the-Holy-Spirit">The operations of the Holy Spirit</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67483"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Holy-Trinity">The Holy Trinity</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67484"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Holy-Trinity#ref67484">The basis for the doctrine of the Trinity</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67485"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Holy-Trinity#ref67485">Introduction of Neoplatonic themes</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67486"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Attempts-to-define-the-Trinity">Attempts to define the Trinity</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67487"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Attempts-to-define-the-Trinity#ref67487">Anthropology</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67488"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Attempts-to-define-the-Trinity#ref67488">What it is to be human</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67489"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Attempts-to-define-the-Trinity#ref67489">The human as a creature</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67490"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-human-as-the-image-of-God">The human as the image of God</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67491"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Human-redemption">Human redemption</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67492"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-problem-of-suffering">The problem of suffering</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67493"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-problem-of-suffering#ref67493">The resurrection of the body</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67494"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Progressive-human-perfection">Progressive human perfection</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67496"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Progressive-human-perfection#ref67496">The “new man”: The human being in the light of Christ</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67497"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-reborn-human">The “reborn human”</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67498"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Human-liberation">Human liberation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67499"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Joy-in-human-existence">Joy in human existence</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67500"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Joy-in-human-existence#ref67500">The charismatic believer</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67501"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Christian-perfection">Christian perfection</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67502"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Fellow-humans-as-the-present-Christ">Fellow humans as the present Christ</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67503"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-church">The church</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67504"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Normative-defenses-in-the-early-church">Normative defenses in the early church</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67505"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Evolution-of-the-episcopal-office">Evolution of the episcopal office</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67506"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Authority-and-dissent">Authority and dissent</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67508"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Organization">Organization</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67509"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-polity">Church polity</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67510"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Liturgy">Liturgy</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67511"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/New-liturgical-forms-and-antiliturgical-attitudes">New liturgical forms and antiliturgical attitudes</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67513"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-tradition">Church tradition</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67512"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-sacraments">The sacraments</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67514"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Scriptural-traditions">Scriptural traditions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67515"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Veneration-of-places-objects-and-people">Veneration of places, objects, and people</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67516"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Monasticism">Monasticism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67517"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-saintly-life">The saintly life</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67518"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Art-and-iconography">Art and iconography</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67519"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Theology-of-icons">Theology of icons</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67521"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Eschatology">Eschatology</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67522"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Eschatology#ref67522">Expectations of the kingdom of God in early Christianity</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67523"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Expectations-of-the-kingdom-of-God-in-the-medieval-and-Reformation-periods">Expectations of the kingdom of God in the medieval and Reformation periods</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67524"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Expectations-of-the-kingdom-of-God-in-the-medieval-and-Reformation-periods#ref67524">Expectations of the kingdom of God in the post-Reformation period</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67525"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-role-of-imminent-expectation-in-missions-and-emigrations">The role of imminent expectation in missions and emigrations</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67526"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Eschatological-expectations-and-secularization">Eschatological expectations and secularization</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67527"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Concepts-of-life-after-death">Concepts of life after death</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref67528"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Aspects-of-the-Christian-religion">Aspects of the Christian religion</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67529"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Aspects-of-the-Christian-religion#ref67529">Christian philosophy</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67530" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Aspects-of-the-Christian-religion#ref67530">History of the interactions of philosophy and theology</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67531"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Aspects-of-the-Christian-religion#ref67531">Influence of Greek philosophy</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67532"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Emergence-of-official-doctrine">Emergence of official doctrine</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67533"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Aristotle-and-Aquinas">Aristotle and Aquinas</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67534"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Other-influences">Other influences</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67535"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Faith-and-reason">Faith and reason</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67536" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Christian-philosophy-as-natural-theology">Christian philosophy as natural theology</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67537"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Christian-philosophy-as-natural-theology#ref67537">Arguments for the existence of God</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67538"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Christian-philosophy-as-natural-theology#ref67538">The design (or teleological) argument</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67539"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-cosmological-argument">The cosmological argument</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67540"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-ontological-argument">The ontological argument</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67541"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Moral-arguments">Moral arguments</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67542"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Arguments-from-religious-experience-and-miracles">Arguments from religious experience and miracles</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67543"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-immortality-of-the-soul">The immortality of the soul</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67544" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/20th-century-discussions">20th-century discussions</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67545"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/20th-century-discussions#ref67545">Influence of logical positivism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67546"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Evidentialist-approach">Evidentialist approach</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67547"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Christian-mysticism">Christian mysticism</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67548" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/History-of-Christian-mysticism">History of Christian mysticism</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67549"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/History-of-Christian-mysticism#ref67549">Early church</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67550"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Eastern-Christianity">Eastern Christianity</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67551"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Western-Catholic-Christianity">Western Catholic Christianity</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67552"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Protestant-Christianity">Protestant Christianity</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67553" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Stages-of-Christian-mysticism">Stages of Christian mysticism</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67554"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Stages-of-Christian-mysticism#ref67554">The dying to self</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67555"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Stages-of-Christian-mysticism#ref67555">The union with God</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67556"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Stages-of-Christian-mysticism#ref67556">The readjustment</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67557" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Forms-of-Christian-mysticism">Forms of Christian mysticism</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67558"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Forms-of-Christian-mysticism#ref67558">Christ-mysticism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67559"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Forms-of-Christian-mysticism#ref67559">Trinitarian mysticism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67560"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Forms-of-Christian-mysticism#ref67560">Negative mysticism: God and the Godhead</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67561"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Forms-of-Christian-mysticism#ref67561">Significance of Christian mysticism</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67562"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Christian-myth-and-legend">Christian myth and legend</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67563"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Characteristics-of-Christian-myth-and-legend">Characteristics of Christian myth and legend</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67564" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/History-of-Christian-myth-and-legend">History of Christian myth and legend</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67565"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/History-of-Christian-myth-and-legend#ref67565">The early church</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67566"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/History-of-Christian-myth-and-legend#ref67566">The ages of the world</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67567"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Messianic-secrets-and-the-mysteries-of-salvation">Messianic secrets and the mysteries of salvation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67568"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Messianic-secrets-and-the-mysteries-of-salvation#ref67568">The Magi and the Child of Wondrous Light</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67569"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Relics-and-saints">Relics and saints</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67570"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Middle-Ages">The Middle Ages</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67571"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Renaissance-magic-and-science">Renaissance magic and science</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67572"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Christian-practice-in-the-modern-world">Christian practice in the modern world</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref67573"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Christian-community-and-the-world">The Christian community and the world</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67574"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Christian-community-and-the-world#ref67574">The relationships of Christianity</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67575"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Christian-community-and-the-world#ref67575">Historical views</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67576"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-sect-and-mystical-movement">Church, sect, and mystical movement</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67577" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-state">Church and state</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67578"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-history-of-church-and-state">The history of church and state</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67579"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-history-of-church-and-state#ref67579">The church and the Roman Empire</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67580"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-history-of-church-and-state#ref67580">The church and the Byzantine, or Eastern, Empire</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67581"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-church-and-Western-states">The church and Western states</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67582"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Separation-of-church-and-state">Separation of church and state</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67583"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-state-in-Eastern-and-Western-theology">Church and state in Eastern and Western theology</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67584"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-state-in-Eastern-and-Western-theology#ref67584">The views of Eusebius of Caesarea</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67585"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-state-in-Eastern-and-Western-theology#ref67585">The views of Augustine</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67586"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-state-in-Eastern-and-Western-theology#ref67586">Later developments</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67587" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-society">Church and society</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67588"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-society#ref67588">The problem of slavery and persecution</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67589"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-society#ref67589">Theological and humanitarian motivations</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67590" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-education">Church and education</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67591"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-education#ref67591">Intellectualism versus anti-intellectualism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67592"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Forms-of-Christian-education">Forms of Christian education</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67594" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-social-welfare">Church and social welfare</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67595"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-social-welfare#ref67595">Curing and caring for the sick</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67596"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-social-welfare#ref67596">Healing the sick</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67597"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-social-welfare#ref67597">Care for the sick</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67598"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Care-for-widows-and-orphans">Care for widows and orphans</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67599"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Property-poverty-and-the-poor">Property, poverty, and the poor</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67600"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Pastoral-care">Pastoral care</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67601"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-minorities">Church and minorities</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67602" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-family">Church and family</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67603"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-family#ref67603">The tendency to spiritualize and individualize marriage</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67604"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-family#ref67604">The tendency toward asceticism</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67605" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-the-individual">Church and the individual</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67606"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-the-individual#ref67606">Love as the basis for Christian ethics</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67607"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Church-and-the-individual#ref67607">Freedom and responsibility</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67608"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Christian-missions">Christian missions</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67609"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Christian-missions#ref67609">Biblical foundations</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67610" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-history-of-Christian-missions">The history of Christian missions</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67611"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-history-of-Christian-missions#ref67611">First transition, to 500 <span class="text-smallcaps">ce</span></a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67612"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Second-transition-to-1500-ce">Second transition, to 1500 <span class="text-smallcaps">ce</span></a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67613"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Second-transition-to-1500-ce#ref67613">Western mission</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67614"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Second-transition-to-1500-ce#ref67614">Papal mission</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67615"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Second-transition-to-1500-ce#ref67615">Eastern and Nestorian missions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67616"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Second-transition-to-1500-ce#ref67616">The rise of Islam</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67617"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Third-transition-to-1950">Third transition, to 1950</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67618"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Third-transition-to-1950#ref67618">Roman Catholic mission, 1500–1950</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67619"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Protestant-missions-1500-1950">Protestant missions, 1500–1950</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h6"><li data-target="#ref260806"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Protestant-missions-1500-1950#ref260806">Early Protestant missions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h6"><li data-target="#ref260807"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Protestant-missions-1500-1950#ref260807">Missions to Asia</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h6"><li data-target="#ref260808"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Missions-to-South-East-Asia-and-the-Pacific">Missions to South East Asia and the Pacific</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h6"><li data-target="#ref260809"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Missions-to-South-East-Asia-and-the-Pacific#ref260809">Missions to Africa and South America</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h6"><li data-target="#ref260810"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Missions-to-South-East-Asia-and-the-Pacific#ref260810">Missionary associations</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h5"><li data-target="#ref67620"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Orthodox-and-nondenominational-missions">Orthodox and nondenominational missions</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67621"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Fourth-transition-from-1950">Fourth transition, from 1950</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67622"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Scripture-translations">Scripture translations</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67623"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Ecumenism">Ecumenism</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67624"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-biblical-perspective">The biblical perspective</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67625" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-history-of-ecumenism">The history of ecumenism</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67626"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-history-of-ecumenism#ref67626">Early controversies</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67627"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Schism-of-1054">The Schism of 1054</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67628"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/The-Reformation">The Reformation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67629"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Ecumenism-in-the-17th-and-18th-centuries">Ecumenism in the 17th and 18th centuries</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67630"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/19th-century-efforts">19th-century efforts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref67631"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Ecumenism-since-the-start-of-the-20th-century">Ecumenism since the start of the 20th century</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref67632"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Christianity-and-world-religions">Christianity and world religions</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67633"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Christianity-and-world-religions#ref67633">Conflicting Christian attitudes</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref67634"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/Christianity/Christianity-and-world-religions#ref67634">Contemporary views</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christianity/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Christianity">Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.worldhistory.org/christianity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">World History Encyclopedia - Christianity</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/christianity" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">The Canadian Encyclopedia - Christianity</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://uri.org/kids/world-religions/christian-beliefs" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">United Religions Initiative - Christianity: Background, Basic Beliefs, and Sacred Texts</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/C/christianity.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Biblical Cyclopedia - Christianity</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Religious_Studies/World_Religions%3A_The_Spirit_Searching_(Ondich)/04%3A_Middle_Eastern_Origins/4.03%3A_Christianity" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Humanities LibreTexts - Christianity</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1164&context=history_and_government_publications" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">DigitalCommons at Cedarville - Human Nature and the Christian</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/unromantest/chapter/christians/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">BCcampus Open Publishing - UnRoman Romans - Christianity</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/ancient-rome/rome-and-christianity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">The History Learning Site - Rome and Christianity</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/christianity-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Jewish Virtual Library - Christianity</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Christianity/352957" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christianity - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Christianity/273658" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christianity - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Carter-H-Lindberg/3405" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Carter H. Lindberg</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Professor of Church History, Boston University. Author of <i>The Third Reformation?</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Carter H. Lindberg</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Linwood-Fredericksen/979" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Linwood Fredericksen</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Manager, Planning and Research, Rotary International, Evanston, Illinois. Associate Editor, Religion, <i>Encyclopædia Britannica, </i>Chicago, 1969–73. Author of <i>A Christian Witness in a Non-Christian...</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Linwood Fredericksen</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christianity/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-02-13T00:00:00CST" >Feb 13, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christianity/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Key People: </dt> <dd><a href="/biography/Saint-Paul-the-Apostle" topicid="447019">St. Paul the Apostle</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Martin-Buber-German-religious-philosopher" topicid="82688">Martin Buber</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Jan-Hus" topicid="277400">Jan Hus</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Saint-Albertus-Magnus" topicid="12923">St. Albertus Magnus</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Nikolaus-Ludwig-Graf-von-Zinzendorf" topicid="657444">Nikolaus Ludwig, count von Zinzendorf</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/biblical-literature" topicid="64496">biblical literature</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/Roman-Catholicism" topicid="507284">Roman Catholicism</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/Protestantism" topicid="479892">Protestantism</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/temple-garment" topicid="2214167">temple garment</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/novena" topicid="2118383">novena</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Christianity"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/115240/c4a01b2d75b471e7329f84a6e662c934" rel="nofollow">Given Christianity's dominance in US, Trump raises eyebrows with anti-Christian bias initiative</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 13, 2025, 8:02 AM ET (AP) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/115240/bbb000ea0e232765db1280c093301a8a" rel="nofollow">Christian aid groups weigh life-threatening choices about who to help after USAID funding pause</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 12, 2025, 11:26 AM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/115240/7e0f3060033fc25c5982bc583587562c" rel="nofollow">Trump won't block immigration arrests in houses of worship. Now these 27 religious groups are suing</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 12, 2025, 8:08 AM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/115240/09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90" rel="nofollow">Pope rebukes Trump administration over migrant deportations, and appears to take direct aim at Vance</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 11, 2025, 5:06 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/115240/7d1c476694176876256e95cecbd49231" rel="nofollow">Senate confirms Project 2025 architect Russell Vought to lead powerful White House budget office</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 6, 2025, 7:35 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="2"><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="3"><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="4" id="ref67631">  <span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The 20th century experienced a flowering of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/ecumenism" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">ecumenism</a>. Four different strands—the international Christian movement, cooperation in world <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/missions-Christianity" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">mission</a>, Life and Work, and Faith and Order—developed in the early decades and, though distinctive in their emphases, later converged to form one <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="ecumenical" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecumenical" data-type="MW">ecumenical</a> movement.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The modern ecumenical era began with a worldwide movement of Christian students, who formed national movements in Great Britain, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">United States</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Germany</a>, Scandinavia, and Asia. In 1895 the World Student Christian Federation, the vision of American <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Methodism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Methodist</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Mott" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">John R. Mott</a>, was established “to lead students to accept the Christian faith” and to pioneer in Christian unity. The World Missionary Conference at Edinburgh (1910) inaugurated another aspect of ecumenism by dramatizing the necessity of unity and international cooperation in fulfilling the world mission of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/church-architecture" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">church</a>. In 1921 the International Missionary Council (IMC) emerged, bringing together missionary agencies of the West and of the new Christian councils in Asia, Africa, and Latin America for joint consultation, planning, and theological reflection. The Life and Work movement was pledged to practical Christianity and common action by focusing the Christian <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="conscience" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conscience" data-type="MW">conscience</a> on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/international-relations" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">international relations</a> and social, industrial, and economic problems. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nathan-Soderblom" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Nathan Söderblom</a>, Lutheran <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/archbishop" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">archbishop</a> of Uppsala, inspired world conferences on Life and Work at Stockholm (1925) and Oxford (1937). The Faith and Order movement, which originated in the United States, confronted the doctrinal divisions and sought to overcome them. Charles H. Brent, an Episcopal missionary <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/bishop-Christianity" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">bishop</a> in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Philippines</a>, was chiefly responsible for this movement, although Peter Ainslie, of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Disciples-of-Christ" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Disciples of Christ</a>, shared the same vision and gave significant leadership. World conferences on Faith and Order at Lausanne (Switzerland; 1925), Edinburgh (1937), Lund (Sweden; 1952), and Montreal (1963) guided the process of theological <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="consensus" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consensus" data-type="MW">consensus</a> building among Protestants, Orthodox, and Roman Catholics, which led to approval by the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches of the historic convergence text <em>Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry</em> (1982).</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The <span id="ref994643"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/World-Council-of-Churches" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World Council of Churches</a> (WCC) is a privileged instrument of the ecumenical movement. <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="Constituted" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Constituted" data-type="MW">Constituted</a> at Amsterdam in 1948, the conciliar body includes more than 300 churches—Protestant, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox—which “confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures and therefore seek to fulfill together their common calling to the glory of the one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Its general secretaries have been among the architects of modern ecumenism: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Willem-Adolph-Visser-t-Hooft" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Willem Adolph Visser ’t Hooft</a> (Netherlands), <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eugene-Carson-Blake" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Eugene Carson Blake</a> (United States), Philip Potter (Dominica), Emilio Castro (Uruguay), Konrad Raiser (Germany), and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Samuel-Kobia" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Samuel Kobia</a> (Kenya). The witness and programs of the WCC include <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/faith" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">faith</a> and order, mission and evangelism, refugee and relief work, interfaith <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="dialogue" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dialogue" data-type="MW">dialogue</a>, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="justice" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justice" data-type="MW">justice</a> and peace, theological <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/education" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">education</a>, and solidarity with women and the poor. What distinguishes the WCC <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="constituency" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constituency" data-type="MW">constituency</a> is the forceful involvement of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches and churches from the developing world. Through their active presence the WCC, and the wider ecumenical movement, has become a genuinely international <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="community" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/community" data-type="MW">community</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Roman Catholic ecumenism received definitions and momentum at the <span id="ref302118"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Vatican-Council" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Second Vatican Council</a> (Vatican II; 1962–65), under the ministries of Popes <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-XXIII" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">John XXIII</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Blessed-Paul-VI" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Paul VI</a>, and through the ecumenical diplomacy of Augustin Cardinal Bea, the first president of the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity. The church gave the ecumenical movement new hope and language in the “Decree on Ecumenism” (1964), one of the classic ecumenical teaching documents. Another result of Vatican II was the establishment of a wide variety of international theological <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="dialogues" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dialogues" data-type="MW">dialogues</a>, commonly known as bilateral conversations. These included Roman Catholic bilaterals with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lutheranism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Lutherans</a> (1965), <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eastern-Orthodoxy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Eastern Orthodox</a> (1967), <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Anglicanism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Anglicans</a> (1967), <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Methodism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Methodists</a> (1967), <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Reformed-church" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Reformed</a> (1970), and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Disciples-of-Christ" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Disciples of Christ</a> (1977). Topics identified for <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="reconciling" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconciling" data-type="MW">reconciling</a> discussions included <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/baptism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">baptism</a>, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eucharist" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Eucharist</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/episcopacy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">episcopacy</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/papacy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">papacy</a>, authority in the church, and mixed <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/marriage" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">marriage</a>. Conversations were also held with the <span id="ref302066"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Oriental-Orthodox-church" class="md-crosslink ">Oriental Orthodox churches</a> and the Assyrian <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nestorianism" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Church of the East</a>, resulting in joint statements (1992 with the Oriental Orthodox; 1994 with the Assyrian Church of the East) that resolved many of the ancient Christological disputes, although they did not result in full communion.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Critical to modern ecumenism is the birth of united churches, which have <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="reconciled" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconciled" data-type="MW">reconciled</a> formerly divided churches in a given place. In Asia the first united churches were organized in China (1927), Thailand (1934), Japan (1941), and the Philippines (1944). The most-heralded examples of this ecumenism are the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Church-of-Canada" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United Church of Canada</a> (1925), the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Church-of-South-India" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Church of South India</a> (1947), and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Church-of-North-India" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Church of North India</a> (1970). Statistics of other united churches are revealing. Between 1948 and 1965, 23 churches were formed. In the period from 1965 to 1970, unions involving two or more churches occurred in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/West-Indies-island-group-Atlantic-Ocean" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">West Indies</a> (in Jamaica and Grand Cayman), Ecuador, Zambia, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Pakistan, Madagascar, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Papua-New-Guinea" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Papua New Guinea</a>, the Solomon Islands, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Belgium" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Belgium</a>. Strategic union conversations were undertaken in the United States by the nine-church Consultation on Church Union (1960) and by such uniting churches as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Church-of-Christ" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United Church of Christ</a> (1957), the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Presbyterian-Church-USA" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)</a> (1983), and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Evangelical-Lutheran-Church-in-America" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a> (1988). In <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Europe</a> the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Protestant-Church-in-the-Netherlands" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Protestant Church in the Netherlands</a> (2004) was formed from the merger of the three largest Dutch churches.</p><div class="module-spacing"> </div><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Spiritual <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="disciplines" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disciplines" data-type="MW">disciplines</a> play a key role in ecumenism, a movement steeped in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/prayer" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">prayer</a> for unity. During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, celebrated every year (January 18–25), Christians from many traditions engage in prayer, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bible" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Bible</a> study, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/worship" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">worship</a>, and fellowship in anticipation of the unity that <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jesus" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Christ</a> wills.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/contributor/Paul-A-Crow/3465">Paul A. Crow</a></span> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span> </section> </section> </section> <span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":153,"pagesTotal":154,"pageId":115240,"pageLength":959,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.9' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":153,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Christianity - Ecumenism, 20th Century, Unity | Britannica