An overview of the history, content and future of the modern ecumenical movement, with particular attention to Catholic leadership and the results of dialogues among the churches. +

What is Ecumenism? Is Christian unity a legitimate hope or just a pious illusion? The aim of this book is to analyze the real obstacles that stand in the path to unity and to propose solutions, where these are possible. Distinguished authors from the main Christian denominations offer a unique insight into the problem of Christian divisions and the relationships between Christian communities. This work is not a politically correct exercise in diplomacy; rather, it informs the reader about the actual state of the ecumenical dialogue.

This book is a response to the growing recognition of Receptive Ecumenism as a concept and process that has the potential to bring about the greater flourishing of the Church, both within denominations and across the Church universal.

Receptive Ecumenism asks not what other churches can learn from us, but 'what can we learn and receive with integrity from our ecclesial others?' Since the publication of Receptive Ecumenism and the Call to Catholic Learning: Exploring a Way for Contemporary Ecumenism (OUP, 2008), this fresh ecumenical strategy has been adopted, critiqued, and developed in different Christian traditions, and in local, national, and international settings, including the most recent bilateral dialogue of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC III). The thirty-eight chapters in this new volume, by academics, church leaders, and ecumenical practitioners who have adopted and adapted Receptive Ecumenism in various ecclesial and cultural contexts, show how Receptive Ecumenism has grown and matured. Part One demonstrates how Receptive Ecumenism itself is capable of being received with integrity into very different ecclesiologies and ecclesial traditions. In Part Two, this approach to transformative ecumenical learning is applied to some recurrent ecclesial problems, such as the understanding and practice of ministry, revealing new insights and practical opportunities. Part Three examines the potential and challenges for Receptive Ecumenism in different international settings. Part Four draws on scripture, hermeneutics, and pneumatology to offer critical reflection on how Receptive Ecumenism itself implements transformative ecclesial learning. Addressing the 70th Anniversary of the World Council of Churches, Archbishop Justin Welby, said that 'One of the most important of recent ecumenical developments has been the concept of Receptive Ecumenism'. This volume provides an indispensable point of reference for understanding and applying that concept in the life of the Christian churches today.

Receptive Ecumenism is a ground-breaking new ecumenical approach, widely regarded as having the potential to revitalise the Ecumenical Movement. But what is Receptive Ecumenism? Why is it important? In Receptive Ecumenism and the Renewal of the Ecumenical Movement, Antonia Pizzey offers a comprehensive, systematic analysis of Receptive Ecumenism. While still emerging, Receptive Ecumenism is highly promising because it prioritises the need for ecclesial conversion. Pizzey explores the scope and complexity of Receptive Ecumenism, providing much-needed clarity on its aim, key developmental influences and distinctiveness, as well as its virtuous character and relationship with Spiritual Ecumenism. The major implementations of Receptive Ecumenism to date are investigated, along with its significance for the future of ecumenism, especially regarding its engagement with contemporary challenges.

Ecumenism has obscured the truth of the bible and the church. Ecumenism is against the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and his gospel. Ecumenicals are against the Christian mission and evangelism. Visible organizational unity of the church and also the unity of all other religions are their major objectives. Hence the unification of the religious groups is falsely considered as the mission of the Church. The contemporary false ecumenism is the embodiment of the degeneration of the concept of unity in spirit to organizational unity. It is the solution of man, not of God. It is the master stroke of devil which plunged the Church deep into unbelief. Emphasis is shifted from the Biblical mission of evangelism to efforts toward mobilizing a visible Church organization. All energy is spent on the organizational affairs of the Church. Evangelism was replaced by Church management. The modern ecumenical liberal theology is influenced by the philosophies of the world. Here preference is given to the views of men not of god. Ecumenism takes the unfortunate and cowardly stand that since other views do not accept us, we must change and adopt some of their beliefs, conglomerate or syncretize, so that we can move toward a peaceful coexistence. This means the ecumenical want the Christians to surrender our convictions to those who have a different set of beliefs. Their marathon dialogues with other faiths ultimately end up in compromising or even denying the uniqueness of Christ and declaring moratorium on the proclamation of gospel. Modern ecumenical theology is pluralistic, relativistic, subjectivistic, inclusivistic and universalistic for destroying the objective and exclusive claims of Jesus Christ. New age is in the Church under the garb of modern liberal theology. Liberal theology facilitates the infiltration of the new age movement and pantheistic mysticism into the church through environmentalism. Environmental protection including love and concern for animals are major issues on the agenda of the ecumenicals. Modern liberal theology is the product of the new age philosophy. It has deviously misdirected the mission of the church into social work, environmental protection, and ecumenism. There is relationship between contemporary ecumenical movement, one world religion, antichrist and the ideology of liberal theology. Ecumenism is the program for the unity of world religions for the rule of false prophet and antichrist. Ecumenicals are the agents of antichrist for forming the world religion by fusing Christianity with other religions. The world religious system will try its level best, through all subtle ways and means, to eliminate the pure gospel from the face of the earth. True unity cannot be accomplished by pretending that there are no differences, but only by recognizing and respecting those differences, while focusing on the great truths of Christian faith. Here in this book, one of the biggest attacks on the Christian truth is exposed.

Ecumenism: A Guide for the Perplexed is a comprehensive introduction to the methods, achievements, and future prospects of the modern ecumenical movement. The authors begin the volume by charting out a serviceable definition of ecumenism, a term that has long been a source of confusion for students of theology and church history. They review the chronology of the modern ecumenical movement and highlight the major events, figures, accomplishments, and impasses. This historical survey is followed by critical examinations of three significant challenges for contemporary ecumenical theology and practice. Along the way, the authors provide commentary upon the difficulties and prospects that the ecumenical movement might anticipate as it enters this new millennium.

"This initial volume in the Rediscovering Vatican II series looks at the relationship between the Catholic Church and other Christian churches (Unitatis Redintegratio - Restoring Christian Unity), and between the Catholic Church and other great religions (Nostra Actate - the Declaration on Interreligious Dialogue)."--BOOK JACKET.

Bishops are to be regarded primarily as representatives of cultures in process of redemption whose territorial location is merely incidental. Classical, patristics texts (Ignatius, Irenaeus, Cyprian, church Order literature etc.) are analyzed using insights from Durkheim's sociology. The survival of such a concept is traced through its Gregorian and early Irenaean distortions.

What associations come to mind when you hear the term "Ecumenism"? When we hear the term "Ecumenism", joy comes to mind and we want to share that joy with you. So when you want to share the joy of Ecumenism, kindly read this book. 29 pages; 25 poems.