It’s just a bunch of objects on a table. Until we start to weave them into our religious theology. Then, they’re either context within a belief – or wandering from a belief. But even then. it depends on the beliefs of the beholder as to which one it is.
Syncretism
- Syncretism
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The term syncretism is used by anthropologists and historians to refer to the blending of religious beliefs. This typically occurs when the social circumstances of one group bring them into contact with another. As the two groups interact, members of one group may begin to assimilate aspects of the religious beliefs of the other, resulting in a transformation of the traditional religion.
For Christians throughout history, the notion of syncretism has had largely negative connotations and is sometimes associated with heresy. This is due to the fact that assimilation is often perceived as a departure from the purity of the original.
Many modern-day missiologists thus distinguish syncretism from contextualization, with the latter understood as an appropriate expression of the gospel in culturally relevant forms. 1 “Arnold, C. E. (1997). Syncretism. In R. P. Martin & P. H. Davids (Eds.), Dictionary of the later New Testament and its developments (electronic ed., p. 1146). InterVarsity Press.”
Of course, the definition above is all well and good, as far as definitions go. But – it’s not exactly crystal clear. So, here’s one in English rather than “church speak”
Syncretism is often in the eye of the beholder
Syncretism is often in the eye of the beholder. Two people can look at the same practice and reach completely different conclusions about it.
It depends on how someone understands the context, the intention, and the meaning behind the practice.
If they believe the practice expresses the gospel faithfully within a culture, they’ll call it contextualization.
If they believe the practice mixes Christianity with something incompatible, they’ll call it syncretism.
The practice itself hasn’t changed — the interpretation has.
So the word syncretism usually reflects a judgment, not just a description.
Footnotes:
- 1“Arnold, C. E. (1997). Syncretism. In R. P. Martin & P. H. Davids (Eds.), Dictionary of the later New Testament and its developments (electronic ed., p. 1146). InterVarsity Press.”
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