Dictionary of Philosophy of Religion

(Dana P.) #1
72

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ECKHART, MEISTER (c. 1260–1327).
German Christian theologian and mystic
whose philosophy of the relationship
between God and the soul bordered on a
unitive pantheism. His work may exhibit
the way in which theism can allow for
deep pantheistic insights without embrac-
ing monism. His works include Three
Part (1314), Parisian Questions (1302–
1303), and German Sermons.


ECUMENISM. From the Greek oik-
oumene, meaning “the inhabited world.”
Ecumenism is the movement to promote
religious unity. Although sometimes used
to refer to unity between religions, ecu-
menism refers primarily to efforts for
unity within a religious tradition, e.g.,
between Catholics and Protestants.


EDICT OF MILAN. The proclamation
declaring the toleration of Christians
and the restoration of their property in
313 CE by Constantine the Great and
Licinius.


EDWARDS, JONATHAN (1703–1758).
An American idealist, compatabilist, and
defender of virtue theory and the beauty
and glory of God. His public reputation
today is largely built around his extraor-
dinary preaching, especially the paradigm
of fire and brimstone sermonizing in
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry
God,” but his broader philosophical
and theological work deserves more
attention. Edwards was one of the first
European-American philosophers. He
was appointed as president of the College
of New Jersey (eventually Princeton
College and the University). His works
include Notes on the Mind (c. 1720), Reli-
gious Affections (1746), Freedom of the
Will (1754), Original Sin (1758), and Tr u e
Vir tue (published posthumously, 1765).
He was influenced by George Berkeley’s
case for idealism and the Cambridge
Platonist view of virtues.

EGOISM. Psychological egoism is the
view that persons by nature always act ulti-
mately upon some perceived self-interest.
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