John Amos Comenius: incipience of the ecumenical worldview

Abstract

Background: The 17th century was marked by tragic religious conflicts and the Thirty Years’ War. The polarization of the Western Church, begun by ‘The First Reformation’, was deepened during this period by the emergence of new denominations. These factors forced political and church leaders to consider more effective forms of interstate and interchurch relations. In Protestant theology was formed the ideological program of ‘The Second Reformation’, which was associated with social and scientific progress and was to prepare mankind for the Millennial Kingdom. The implementation of this program required overcoming the contradictions between the Protestant churches: therefore, the mainstream of ‘The Second Reformation’ was irenicism, which during the Thirty Years’ War went beyond the narrow confessional boundaries. Purpose: On the example of church and scientific-educational activity of a Czech thinker John Amos Comenius shows the process of search by reformers of the 17th century the ways of religious understanding. The author of the article proves rethinking by John Comenius of irenic projects in favor of the ecumenical model, which would synthesize the ideas of humanism, pacifism and religious tolerance. This model was embodied in his idea of the Universal Christianity as an integral element of social and spiritual harmony of the world. Results: The author of the article confirms the thesis that John Comenius’ ecumenical worldview was based on the spiritual tradition and ecclesiastical paradigm of the Czech Brotherhood, on scientific achievements and socio-ethical utopias of the Early Modern period, as well as on irenic projects of European reformers. Disappointed with the futility of the Colloquium Charitativum (1645), John Comenius proposed a new vision of the Universal Christianity, based on the rejection of the confessional traditions, which could not shake religious faith but instead caused theological controversy. He proposed the Universal Christianity, directed on the mutual respect of believers of different churches and their cooperation. According to John Comenius, such Universal Christianity can become a spiritual platform of religious peace. Key words: John Amos Comenius, Czech Brotherhood, ‘The Second Reformation’, irenicism, ecumenism.