72

E

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.