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Document Details : Title: Logos: a Bridge-Builder for Interreligious Dialogue? Author(s): TIRIMANNA, Vimal Journal: Studies in Interreligious Dialogue Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Date: 2009 Pages: 195-214 DOI: 10.2143/SID.19.2.2044692 Abstract : The ancient Greek concept of logos influenced some of the early church fathers, like Justin Martyr, who themselves were converts from the so-called 'pagan' philosophies, including Greek philosophy. In trying to combat various attacks against the nascent church, these fathers used this very Greek concept to explain the role of the Second Person of the Trinity, the pre-existent Word. Of course, both the wisdom literature of the Old Testament and the gospel of John had already used the concept of logos (more or less in the same sense) to refer to the pre-existent Word that was with God. Recent official Roman Catholic teaching (especially with regard to the 'rays of truth' that are to be found in other religions] has been keen on using the concept of logos spermatikos which is a close relative of the concept of logos. Following this line of teaching (especially in view of the recent Roman Catholic Synod on the Word of God), the author highlights how both logos and logos spermatikos can be used as 'bridge-builders' between religions, especially between Christianity and other religions. |
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