What the Mongols Can Teach the Church About Difficult Conversations

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As someone who has spent much of his life studying history—from watching Victory at Sea with my grandfather as a child to studying history in college—I have often found that some of the most useful lessons come from unexpected places.

One such lesson came while reading Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford for one of my History courses at the University of Pennsylvania. 

The Mongol Empire was one of the largest empires in human history, stretching from East Asia to Eastern Europe. Within its borders lived people of many different religions, including Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and others.

What caught my attention was the practice of the Mongol court hosting organized religious debates. Representatives of various faiths were invited to explain, defend, and discuss their beliefs before the court. These gatherings were not intended to eliminate disagreement, nor were they attempts to merge religions into one. Rather, they provided a forum where competing ideas could be presented openly instead of being reduced to rumor, suspicion, or caricature.

As I reflected on this practice, I found myself wondering whether the Catholic Church could benefit from recovering something similar in our own time.

Before anyone misunderstands me, I am not suggesting that Catholic doctrine be determined by debate. The Church is not a democracy, and truth is not decided by popular vote. The Catholic faith possesses a deposit of faith that has been handed down through the centuries.

What I am suggesting is that there may be value in recovering the art of serious, charitable, and public disputation.

In recent decades, many difficult questions have emerged within the Church.

Traditional Catholics have raised concerns regarding liturgy, authority, ecclesiastical discipline, and the interpretation of various developments following the Second Vatican Council.

Others have responded that many of these concerns stem from misunderstandings, incomplete information, or an overly negative reading of the Church's recent history.

Meanwhile, discussions surrounding the Society of Saint Pius X, traditional religious communities, liturgical reform, relations with governments, and other matters continue to generate passionate debate among faithful Catholics.

Too often, these conversations occur through articles, podcasts, social media posts, and competing echo chambers. The result is that many ordinary Catholics are left confused. They hear one side say one thing, and then they hear another side say something entirely different. We are oftentimes left wondering where the truth lies. This is why I believe the Church could benefit from a more visible culture of charitable disputation.

Imagine a gathering involving representatives from across the Catholic world.

Theologians.

Canon lawyers.

Historians.

Diocesan bishops.

Diocesan priests.

Members of traditional communities.

Representatives of the Society of Saint Pius X.

Representatives of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter.

Religious orders.

Scholars.

All gathered not to score points, but to seek clarity. Not to produce headlines. Not to humiliate opponents, nor to create winners and losers. But to help faithful Catholics better understand the issues affecting the Church. In many ways, this would not be something new. The Church herself has a long history of intellectual disputation. The great medieval universities were filled with rigorous debates. The writings of St. Thomas Aquinas often present objections before offering responses. Ecumenical councils and theological discussions have long played a role in helping the Church articulate and defend the faith.

The Catholic tradition has never feared serious inquiry when pursued honestly. What many Catholics desire today is not endless conflict. It is clarity. Many simply want to understand why faithful Catholics can look at the same issue and arrive at very different conclusions. They want answers that are thoughtful rather than dismissive. They want dialogue that is charitable rather than hostile. Most importantly, they want confidence that the Church is addressing these questions with the good of souls in mind.

This brings us to one of the most important principles in Catholic law:

Salus animarum suprema lex.

The salvation of souls is the supreme law.

That principle should guide every discussion within the Church.

Not ideology.

Not factions.

Not personal victories.

Souls.

Whether the topic is the liturgy, Church authority, relations with governments, or disagreements among Catholics, the ultimate question should remain the same:

What best serves the sanctification and salvation of souls?

The Mongols did not host religious debates because they believed all religions were equally true. Rather, they understood that ideas should be heard, examined, challenged, and discussed openly.

While the Catholic Church does not determine doctrine through debate, there is still wisdom in creating opportunities for serious questions to be discussed honestly and respectfully.

If a medieval empire stretching from China to Europe could gather Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and others into the same room to discuss difficult questions, perhaps Catholics who share the same Creed, the same Sacraments, and the same Lord can find a way to do the same. Not because debate creates truth, but because honest dialogue can sometimes remove obstacles that prevent people from seeing it.

In a time of confusion, distrust, and polarization, that may be a lesson worth considering.

May The Holy Names of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Be Blessed Now And Forever. Save Souls!