782AD Christian Missions History Musings (CMHM). Interfaith Dialogue
Patriarch Timothy I lived from around 740AD to 823AD. For a little over half of his life he served as Patriarch of the Church of the East (780 – 823). Supposedly, in 782 he had a discussion of religion with Caliph Al-Mahdi (reigning 775-785).
In some ways this appears to be the earliest (or at least best early) conversation between informed passionate adherents of two different faiths that is at the same time respectful.
I would recommend reading it yourself… it is not a horribly long read. CLICK HERE
The document is interesting on several fronts. Some have suggested it is fictional. Of course that is always a possibility, but that leads to the question not only of who would make it up, but (more importantly) to what end. While Islam is treated with considerable respect, Timothy gives a remarkably strong case for Christianity if it was from a Muslim writer. If it was from a Christian writer, one might expect it to be more hagiographic in terms of portraying Timothy, and frankly, the Caliph gives a pretty strong case as well for his faith. It could be argued that it was written to be read by both Christian and Muslim. However, as it is a document that ultimately was passed down through the church, it can’t be assumed to be completely ambivalent regarding religion.
To me, it seems to be some honest history. Timothy was a newly minted Patriarch of the Church of the East when there was a lot of political controversy, and while under the control of a regime that sought to be benevolent, but whose faith is competitive and has been from its roots. As such, Timothy sought to present Christianity in a positive way, while still being very respectful of the ruler and the ruler’s faith.
We see a similar thing with Francis of Assisi when he speaks to the Sultan in Cairo during the Fifth Crusade. While the aspects of this story are arguably uncertain, it seems clear that his interaction with the Sultan was respectful. An article on this can be reading CLICKING HERE.
My previous post which was based on an event just a few years before Timothy’s interaction with the Caliph expressed a different revolutionary idea. Timothy interacted with “the enemy” with reasoned word and respect, while with Charlemagne, interaction was marked by killing and forced conversion.
These two paths met in the Holy Land a little over 3 centuries. There the forces that identify themselves with Christianity fought with forces that identify themselves with Islam. In that setting, Francis and his friars cross the battle lines to wage a (non-) battle for peace with dialogue with what would generally be considered to be the enemy. The juxtaposition of these two traditions are stark in their contrast.
Of course, Timothy was not the first to talk to government leaders of a different faith. John the Baptist did, as did Paul. Some of the Apologists (like Aristides) wrote letters to the emperor to argue in support of the faith.
Still, I think it is in Timothy we see the power of the Christian faith and message when it is in a position of powerlessness.
Prayerfully, we will achieve such powerlessness again, and soon.
