Irenics
/aɪˈriː.nɪks/noun
The study or practice of promoting peace, especially in resolving religious or theological disputes.
Did you know?Irenics comes from Greek eirēnē, the same root behind the goddess of peace, Eirene, so this “peace” word carries an ancient divine aura into modern theology.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁er-
“to join, fit together; to be at peace”
Ancient Greek
Greek
εἰρήνη (eirḗnē)
“peace, harmony”
Late Greek
Greek
εἰρηνικός (eirēnikós)
“peaceful, peaceable”
16th Century
English
irenic
“peaceful or promoting peace, especially in religious controversy”
19th Century
English
irenics
“the study or practice of promoting peace, especially among churches or doctrines”