Deification and Ecumenical Dialogues

Abstract The idea of deification has been discussed in various ecumenical dialogues since the 1970s. Initially this common point between the traditions was found in the Lutheran-Orthodox dialogues, but soon it was extended to Protestant-Catholic dialogues as well. Charismatic and Pentecostal theologies have also seen in deification a common denominator between their own lived experience and other theological traditions. Deification is perceived to be ecumenically fruitful because even if the term itself is not universally used, several traditions manifest similar biblical idea of salvation where the believers share the divine nature of Christ. The possible challenges that may hamper the use of deification in ecumenism include conflicting notions of deification in different traditions, for example, the connection between deification and other doctrines is perceived in different ways.