Medieval thinkers saw all faiths as destined for eventual reunion in one church

Evidence

We live in an age where ecumenism, dialogue, and tolerance are often evoked (if not as often practiced) in relations between mainstream religious groups. We define Islam and Christianity as two distinct and valid “religions” among many. In many countries, the choice of religion is (at least in theory) a matter of personal choice, with different religions considered equal before a lay state. Such a perspective was not possible in the Middle Ages. For Muslims, Christians, and Jews of the Middle Ages, there could be only one true “religion,” just as there was only one God. Rival faiths were at best imperfect expressions of the true religion, at worst diabolically inspired error. There was no “lay” state; as each ruler claimed to uphold God’s law, each saw God as the source of his authority over his subjects. One was born into a religious community, and one’s community determined one’s legal status: Jews, Christians, and Muslims had separate, segregated legal and judicial systems, whether they lived in Baghdad or Barcelona. — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 49 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Medieval thinkers ultimately sought the reunion of all peoples with Rome; Late medieval thinkers grew newly anxious to include unbelievers in salvation — R. W. Southern, Western Views of Islam in the Middle…, 437; Irenic medieval dialogues still presupposed exclusive salvation through one religion — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1319 (+3 more)

Related

• Medieval religious pluralism was impossible because one God implied one true religion (similarity 0.88)
• Medieval exclusivist religion rendered rival faiths diabolical error, not valid alternatives. (similarity 0.85)
• Medieval thinkers ultimately sought the reunion of all peoples with Rome (similarity 0.85)
• Late medieval thinkers grew newly anxious to include unbelievers in salvation (similarity 0.82)
• Irenic medieval dialogues still presupposed exclusive salvation through one religion (similarity 0.80)
• A thirteenth-century text framed religious diversity itself as the cause of human enmity (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• Medieval thinkers ultimately sought the reunion of all peoples with Rome #corroborates (0.95)
• Religious harmony was framed as desire for a single universal faith #corroborates (0.90)
• Medieval religious pluralism was impossible because one God implied one true religion #complicates (0.85) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 49
• Irenic medieval dialogues still presupposed exclusive salvation through one religion #qualifies (0.80) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1319
• Medieval polemicists hoped rational argument could unify the faiths #expands (0.80)
• Late medieval thinkers grew newly anxious to include unbelievers in salvation #qualifies (0.75) — R. W. Southern, Western Views of Islam in the Middle…, 437