Ecumenism

"Denominationalism, which was actually the ecumenical idea that brought religious warring to an end, is now blamed for being the source of our troubles. Actually, of course, it is always the claim by one church to be the one visible church on earth that causes all the trouble to begin with. It could well be argued that the idea of 'visible unity' is the most unecumenical idea the world has ever seen!"
- Gerhard O. Forde, A More Radical Gospel

Ecumenism gives rise to what I call "Hippopotamus Theology." It is said that a hippopotamus is what is produced when a committee designs a race horse. It is also true for theology. When all the wildly different traditions try to agree on the Gospel, it is watered down and tamed. This isn't the jist of the Forde quote but, hell, it's my blog, right? - DOB :-)