Medieval religious disputation normally ended in conversion and caricature.

Evidence

The only other example I know of a disputation that does not end in the conversion of the adversary is Abelard, Dialogus philosophi cum Iudeo et Christiano; on this text, see Von Moos, “Les collations d’Abélard.” — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1961 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

The Libre del gentil is indeed an exceptional work, seen in the context of medieval Christian texts about Islam (or Judaism): four wise men calmly discussing religion in a verdant grove. There are no attacks on Muhammad or the Koran, no charges of Jewish deicide or of the Talmud as blasphemous. Such texts of religious disputation almost invariably end in conversion: yet here the reader does not even learn which religion the gentile has chosen, and none of the three sages converts at all (though they all agree that they wish to find the one true law). While such tracts commonly present gross caricatures of the opponents’ religions, Llull, scrupulous in his use of authentic Jewish and Muslim sources, presents a remarkably fair and accurate portrayal of each of the three religions. Llull’s tract stands out as an irenic island is a sea of tempestuous disputation and polemic. — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1318 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

The Libre del gentil is indeed an exceptional work, seen in the context of medieval Christian texts about Islam (or Judaism): four wise men calmly discussing religion in a verdant grove. There are no attacks on Muhammad or the Koran, no charges of Jewish deicide or of the Talmud as blasphemous. Such texts of religious disputation almost invariably end in conversion: yet here the reader does not even learn which religion the gentile has chosen, and none of the three sages converts at all (though they all agree that they wish to find the one true law). While such tracts commonly present gross caricatures of the opponents’ religions, Llull, scrupulous in his use of authentic Jewish and Muslim sources, presents a remarkably fair and accurate portrayal of each of the three religions. Llull’s tract stands out as an irenic island is a sea of tempestuous disputation and polemic. — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1318 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Medieval religious disputation tracts almost always ended in conversion — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1318; Medieval interfaith disputations almost always ended in the adversary’s conversion. — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1961; Medieval Christian polemicists caricatured Muslim ablutions into a distorted parody. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1171 (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Medieval religious disputation tracts almost always ended in conversion #corroborates (1.00) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1318
• Medieval interfaith disputations almost always ended in the adversary’s conversion. #corroborates (1.00) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1961
• A medieval Christian disputation tract could present Islam and Judaism fairly without caricature #complicates (0.85) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1318
• Some medieval clerics already rejected hostile caricatures of Muslims as inaccurate #complicates (0.80) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 604