Christianity meets the Chinese religions: A case study of Xu Dishan.

摘要

To the Chinese Christians, when they attempt to explain, describe or illustrate what the Chinese religions mean to them, they need to tackle not only the problems relating to the cross-religious communication such as the aspects of mutual understanding and mutual dialogue, but also the problem of self-identification. To the Chinese Christians, the Chinese religions are part of their own history, culture and heritage. Unless they are able to isolate themselves from the Chinese culture, the Chinese society, and even their fellow countrymen and relatives, they are inevitably confronted with the Chinese religions. How do the Chinese Christians conceive the Chinese religions?; Xu Dishan was a famous Chinese. He is famous in both the Christian and the non-Christian circles as an author, a scholar of religious studies as well as an intellectual. Xu Dishan was born in a Buddhist family, but he chose to be a Christian. Being a Christian, he chose to marry a Buddhist woman. Shortly after his marriage, he entered a theological college to study theology. Xu Dishan was a Christian, but he devoted himself to the study of the Chinese religions. His writings on the Chinese religions were widely recognized by the other scholars. Moreover, some believers of the Chinese religions also accepted him.; Throughout Xu Dishan's writings, religious concern is reflected. For instance, love is an outstanding theme featuring in Xu Dishan's literary writings as well as academic writings relating to Chinese religions and Christianity. Xu Dishan shaped Christian saints with love in his moral context. In his ideal, the theme of love can transcend the differences among different religion believers.; During the time of Xu Dishan, the Chinese Christans had different attitudes towards the Chinese religions. They were: (1) The 'Exclusive' type, represented by Zhang Yijing which rejects Chinese religions as falsity; (2) The 'Inclusive' type, represented by Wang Zhixin and Xu Songshi which argues that Christianity is superior and includes all the truths in Chinese religions; (3) The 'Equality' type, represented by Xu Dishan; and (4) The 'Re-converted' type, represented by Zhang Chunyi which is characterized by its being reconverted into a Chinese religion. The approach Xu Dishan used in facing the Chinese religions enables us, on one hand, to recognize the values of our own religion and on the other hand, allow us to maintain a harmonious relationship with the believers of the Chinese religions. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)