Attitudes and Ecumenical Recognition. How Do Attitudes Define, Facilitate, or Inhibit Ecumenical Advancement?

Abstract

Ecumenical texts cultivate a rich language of attitudes referring to trust, commitment, love, faithfulness, openness, etc., but their role in ecumenical advancement has been taken for granted. This article discusses attitudes in ecumenical advancement by focusing on ecumenical recognition. Some recognition theories hold attitudes, specifically personifying attitudes, to be a precondition for recognition. Contemporary recognition theories offer a rich analysis of attitudes concerning subjects and objects of recognition, the direction, and the consequences of recognition. Based on an overview of recognitive attitudes this article aims to offer new insights on (ecumenical) attitudes and a deeper understanding of ecumenical recognition and some of its challenge. Some of the main points of discussion include recognition on the interpersonal level and its relation to institutional level recognition, the individual, corporate and institutional subjects and objects of recognition, and the variety of ways attitudes relate to recognition.