Perspectief 2016-34

2016-34 The de-cognition of recognition 19 Com ment fragmentation brings new challenges to recognition since it is to be considered not only between churches but also within churches. The second preliminary remark is that in the recognition debate, especially in Europe, we entered a post-Christendom era in which the influence of Christianity is declining, and in which we now face new missionary challenges. The fact that in average less than 10% of the European population attends church regularly places recognition between churches on the one hand in a minor mode, since it is very relative facing the need to be recognized by the big majority of people who are not or very little linked with churches. On the other hand, inter-church recognition is in a major mode, because in a missionary perspective, the issue of recognition and unity is a basic element… “ so that the world may believe” (John 17.21). As I mentioned, I am posing the hypothesis that the de-cognition of recognition already occurs, but it is also a wish because it is full of new potentialities. However, at the same time, this is not without risks. In fact, I see a number of tensions. I would like to briefly elaborate some consequences of the de-cognition of recognition around three areas, three double keywords: encounter and relationship, narrativity and experience, and hospitality and otherness. I will try to link these notions with an episode of the Gospel, that seems to me to be quite foundational about recognition, namely the Lucan narrative of the pilgrims of Emmaus. This episode is grounded in reality, therefore somehow close to local church context, and corresponds in many aspects with a de-cognized recognition. I will of course not analyze this text thoroughly, but I will only share some hints. Encounter and relationship First, the de-cognition of recognition leads to the primacy of relationship. In the episode of the pilgrims of Emmaus, recognition occurs only at the end, because first the two pilgrims met with Jesus, and from both sides they dared to start a relationship. The relationship that may be needed on the way to recognition should, as I mentioned, at least be partly de-cognized. The idea is to overcome the objectification of the relationship,