Disputation
In the scholastic system of education of the middle ages, disputations (in Latin: disputationes, singular: disputatio) offered a formalised method of debate designed to uncover and establish "truths" in theology and in other sciences. Fixed rules governed the process: they demanded dependence on traditional written authorities and the thorough understanding of each argument on each side.
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Medieval disputations
Inter-faith disputations
A significant category of disputations took place between Christian and Jewish theologians in order to convince Jews to convert. Christians believed that only the refusal of the Jews to accept Christ stood in the way of the Second Coming.
- 1240 - the Disputation of Paris during the reign of Louis IX of France (St. Louis) involved interrogation of the Talmud, followed by confiscations and burnings of scores of Talmuds in the streets of Paris.
- 1263 - the Disputation of Barcelona before King James I of Aragon: between the monk Pablo Christiani and Rabbi Nachmanides.
- 1413 - the Disputation of Tortosa, Spain, staged by the Avignon Pope Benedict XIII.
Disputation in the Bible
The word disputation occurs only once in the King James Version of the Bible.
- "When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question." (Acts 15:2)
Contemporary disputations
Today some universities practice scientific disputations.