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Definition:
The word ecumenical is derived from the Greek oikoumen which means "the
inhabited (world)," the feminine present passive participle of oikein
which means "to inhabit." In Christianity, it came to have the sense of
promoting general cooperation among various Christian churches and denominations
around the world, even though they varied greatly in terms of specific beliefs and
doctrines.
Early in Christianity, it was simply used to refer to cooperation among the Christian churches to reach a consensus on Christian doctrines - for example, as with the various ecumenical councils. These councils, like the Council of Nicea in the 4th century, helped formulate what has become orthodox Christain dogma.
Today, the ecumenical movement is an expression of a variety of different churches to achieve greater cooperation and unity, much like was experienced by the very early Christian Church.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
What is Christianity?
What are the various Christian groups, denominations, sects and heresies? What are some key concepts in Christian theology? What are some of the most important events in Christian history? All of this and more are covered in the Christianity FAQ.What is the Philosophy of Religion?
Sometimes confused with theology, the Philosophy of Religion is the philosophical study of religious beliefs, religious doctrines, religious arguments and religious history. The line between theology and the philosophy of religion isn't always sharp, but the primary difference is that theology tends to be apologetical in nature, committed to the defense of particular religious positions, whereas Philosophy of Religion is committed to the investigation of religion itself, rather than the truth of any particular religion.What is Theism?
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A system of human beliefs, ideals and practices which is harder to define than it may at first appear. Read more about how dictionaries, scholars and others have tried to define and explain religion.
