Original scientific paper
GLOBALISATION – THE HOPE OF ECUMENISM
Milan Špehar
; Theology of Rijeka, Dislocated Studies of Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
Human life is characterised by a constant discrepancy between unity and communion. Both are necessary for the existence. Without the unity and the communion, united forces in many fields of life and creativity, man could not achieve a thing. But, today in a pluralistic world both concepts are understood in various ways. Some will equal unity with uniformity, others will for the same reason be sceptical towards unity, in search for the communion in diversity. Some will accentuate the unifying factor, others will stress the difference, leaving space to the individuality of the person. All this gave birth to few models of the unity of all Christians, ranging from divergences in nuances to extreme expressions that could be understood as a modern syncretism. Globalisation helped Christianity by establishing the connection and the dialogue between hostile Churches and relative communities, a dialogue based on theology and practice and leading to reunion. In this way globalisation opened a path – either towards a uniformity of the Christianity, demanding the adjustment of smaller communities, or towards a pluralism tending to unite the incompatible. Christianity lacks unity up to our days. But is it significant that Christians are in a continuous dialogue, acting together in many fields of a global importance: peace, justice, caritas etc. The way towards the unity stands before every Church and every ecclesiastical community. Unity will be established when sacraments and ministries in the Church become a common matter. Only in that moment we’ll be one, for only then Jesus’ prayer “that they may be one” will be fulfilled.
Keywords
unity; community; globalisation; ecumenism; models; diversity
Hrčak ID:
220782
URI
Publication date:
10.8.2008.
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