Perspectief 2016-34

Perspectief 34 Dr. Petre Maican but that each and every conversation allows us to clarify and deepen some aspects of the Orthodox teaching, just as each dialogue with another human being helps us discover more about ourselves. Conclusions There are two conclusions to be drawn from Stăniloae’s vision of deification. The first is that avoiding ecumenical dialogue undermines the deification of our own Church. The Church needs to include the entire cosmos and this can happen only if it engages with the world in all of its aspects, from bio-technologies and economics to ecumenism, and even other religions. Thus, for the Orthodox Church to renounce ecumenical dialogue will not only mean going against its own tradition, but also against the particular mission which God has called it to do. The second conclusion, emerging from Stăniloae’s understanding of deification as a dialogical process, is that differences are legitimate and that we need to respect them. Even if we are not in agreement with someone, this does not mean that God cannot use that person as a medium for helping us progress towards our deification. Similarly, the diversity of Christian denominations can represent a source for deepening the understanding of our own heritage. Although it remains true that merely acknowledging that something can be learned from other Christian denominations does not necessarily imply recognition of them as full ecclesial bodies, it certainly shows spiritual growth and maturity in our movement towards deification, both as individual people and as the Church.