syncretism

[Low Lat. syncretism us, from Ger. synkretismus, from Gr. syngkrētismos, a word occurring only in Plutarch (vii. 910, ed. Reiske), and defined there as coined by the Cretans to denote their custom of uniting against a common foe, though they continually quarreled among themselves. The verb syngkrētizō was used in an analogous sense by Erasmus ( Corp. Ref., i. 77) in writing to Melancthon on April 22, 1519. ( Herzog.)] Church Hist .: A word introduced from the writings of the German Reformers, who, however much they varied among themselves, were unanimous on at least one subject-opposition to the Roman Church. The word pa ed through three distinct phases of meaning: (1) A union between the Luther an and Reformed Churches on the basis of common tenets. (2) A union between Roman Catholics and Protestants on the basis of fundamental articles of belief. (3) The principle of moderation, expansion, and development in Luther an theology, as opposed to a rigid orthodoxy. Blunt ( Dict . Doct . & Hist . Theol ., p. 725) says that "the term may be held to apply to any well-meaning but weak attempt to combine in one system opposite and contradictory theological opinions." [SYNCRETISTIC-CONTROVERSY.] "True, it is now rid of one of the most objectionable features of the original foundation, that syncretism with Luther an ism which was the chaining of a living body to a corpse."-Church Times, Feb. 25, 1887. syn-crě-tist, s . [SYNCRETISM.] Church Hist.: An advocate of any kind of Syncretism (q. v.); spec if. applied to the followers and supporters of Calixtus. [SYNCRETISTIC-CONTROVERSY.] "He was violently attacked by the two opposite parties, the Romanist calling him Calvin is tic, the Luther an reviling him as a Papist, and both parties agreed in corrupting the term Syncretist into Sünde-Christ,' 'Sin Christian."- Blunt . Dict. Doct. and Hist. Theol . , p. 725. syn-crě-tist-ic, a. [Eng. syncretist; -ic.] Of or pertaining to Syncretism or the Syncretists. syncretistic-controversy, s . Church Hist.: The name given to a series of controversies which arose in the Luther an Church in the seventeenth century, from the subject of the sin, aş; expect, Xenophon, exist. ph = f. syn crisis discu ion-the promotion of fellowship and union between the protestant churches of Germany. These controversies may be grouped into three periods: 1. From the Colloquy of Thorn (1645), in which it was sought to force a new confe ion of faith on the Luther an Church, to the death of Calixtus (1656), George Calixtus was a profe or of theology at Helmstadt, and his scheme of union was founded on the following propositions: (1) That the fundamental principles of Christianity were maintained pure in the Roman, Luther an and Reformed Churches. (2) That the tenets and opinions which had been constantly received by the ancient doctors during the first five centuries were to be considered as of equal truth and authority with the expre declarations and doctrines of scripture. (3) That the churches which received these points, and held the additional tenets of the particular churches as non-e ential, should come into peaceful relations, and thus pave the way for a future union. After the death of Calixtus, there was a period of peace for about five years. 2. From 1661-69. The conflict was renewed by the wish of the Landgrave of He e-Ca el, William VI., to secure a religious constitution broad enough to embrace both the Luther an and Reformed Churches. The second attempt to have the Consensus adopted, which implicitly condemned Calixtus and his adherents as non-Luther an and heretical, was a failure, and the subject was abandoned for a time. 3. In 1675, Calovius, profe or of divinity at Wittenberg, reopened the controversy, and compelled the University of Jena to disavow all sympathy with the views of Calixtus. The death of Calovius in 1686 put an end to the dispute. sỹń-cri-sis, s . [Gr. a comparison, from syn =together, and kris is a judging; krinō to judge.] Rhet.: A figure by which opposite persons or things are compared. synd, v . t . [Etym. doubtful.] To rinse. ( Scotch .) "Something now and then to synd my mouth wi'."Scott: Bride of Lammer moor, ch. v.