JUSTIN AND SEMINAL REASON A CHRISTIAN PATH TO INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE?

Abstract

The category of Semina Verbi or Logos Spermatikos is now commonly invoked to indicate God’s providential action within non-Christian cultures and religions. However, this was not the original intent and meaning of this expression within the thought of Justin Martyr. This paper aims to clarify the explicitly confessional intentions, but also Justin’s skillful strategy, in order to express in an original way his own faith in terms already used by others (Stoic, Medo-Platonic, Jewish, Gnostic). After clarifying the distinction between the seed of the Word and the seeds of the truth, it is shown that the first (the seed of the Word) is precisely human reason, sown by the Word in every human being. More than the slogan “Semina Verbi”, it is Justin’s attitude that could continues to be useful for interreligious dialogue today.

Keywords

• Justin Martyr
• Semina Verbi
• Logos Sperimatikòs
• Interreligious Dialogue
• Image and Likeness
• Stoicism