A word about the Charts

There are four 'river' charts depicting the WCC ecumenical history. The first and second are the same visually but not in content. It is of interest to note the legend depictions used in the basically 3 various versions. I will have more on that specifically, but another observation pertains to which events appear to play a larger or more important role, described as "landmark" or having a full legend icon for it. Whereas within more modern River charts some Orthodox Landmarks may have gone missing entirely, or that landmark may just be a minor spot on the shoreline (not even warranting a symbol). Some earlier, seemingly prominent events become sidenotes or even just 'raindrops' instead being visually depicted as important as before.

I have just started noting the differences between the two versions of the first chart, both of which use the same symbols. That in itself has proved more time consuming than I expected. It will be interesting to note how the two versions of this early River chart holds up against the modern depictions and whether or not the additions, subtractions, minimizing and maximizing of information follows any particular subtext streams of idealogical and or politically driven "river rafting".

--ecumenistan