On the Merit and Demerit of Being a Christian: Missiological Reflections in the Wake of Medieval Arab Sources Relating the Christianization of Russia

Thomas Mooren

doi:10.67641/mstr.v21i2.650

On the Merit and Demerit of Being a Christian

Missiological Reflections in the Wake of Medieval Arab Sources Relating the Christianization of Russia

Authors

Thomas Mooren

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.67641/mstr.v21i2.650

Keywords:

Christianization of Russia, Religion and Power, Religion and Politics, Christianity and the Sword, Islam and the Sword

Abstract

In 988, Vladimir the Great was baptized, marking the start of Russia's Christianization. While the date is secure, the circumstances remain debated. Arab sources uniquely attribute the baptism to a military alliance: Vladimir helped quell an internal Byzantine rebellion in exchange for marrying the emperor's sister, Anna. Arab sources reveal two key insights: Vladimir could only marry Anna after converting, as she refused a non-Christian husband, and some Russians rejected Christianity because it prohibited living by the sword, leading them to temporarily consider Islam to allow plunder and jihad. Consequently, this study explores the enduring relationship between religion and power, asking:

Can religions survive without military might?
Can Christianity transcend its historical attraction to power to live by Jesus's peaceful principles?
Can Islam reconcile this dilemma within the framework of the Quran?

Author Biography

Thomas Mooren

Born in Germany, Dr. Theol. Thomas Mooren, OfmCap, dipl. EPHE (History of religions), ELOA (Ancient Oriental Languages) and DA (Anthropology [Sorbonne]), until 2016 Professor at Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada; former Director of Mission Studies and interreligious Dialogue; invited professor in Indonesia, India, Germany, Washington, Hongkong and Rome, is now working in PNG as Professor at the Catholic Theological Institute of Port Moresby and as invited Professor at CICM-Maryhill School of Theology, in Quezon City, Philippines. Among his numerous publications are: Purusa, Trading the Razor’s Edge Towards Selfhood (Delhi 1997; on Islamic and Hindu Mysticism), The Buddha’s Path to Freedom (MST 2004), Missiologie im Gegenwind (Wien, Berlin 2012) and Wenn Religionen sich begegnen. Glauben und anders glauben in einer globalen Welt (Wien, Berlin 2014) on interreligious dialogue.