| Volume 7, Number 3, July 2010 |
Looking at the “Luminous Doctrine”
in the Song and Yuan Period from a
Theological Standpoint
by 宗亦耘 Zong Yiyun |
The Spirit of Loyal-Piety,
the Spirit of
Humanism,
and the Spirit of Ultimate Finality
by Peter Jianmin Zhao 赵建敏
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OUR understanding today of the “Luminous Doctrine”(*) of the Yuan Dynasty comes primarily from documents and archaeological findings, ancient sources of information which are unable to speak and yet cannot be overlooked, leaving people of later eras who desire to find answers at the source, hanging by a thread. Later Christians, to use a commonly accepted standard to evaluate Song-Yuan “Luminous Doctrine” can perhaps allow us to sketch out a relatively clear picture of the spread of the “Luminous Doctrine” in the East during this period.
English theologian John Macquarrie wrote in his book Principles of Christian Theology: “Theology may be defined as the study which, through participation in and reflection upon a religious faith, seeks to express the content of this faith in the clearest and most coherent language available.”(1) He also uses an open and tolerant attitude to summarize the six elements of theology, which include...
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THE scope of the topics Science and Faith is extensive. At the beginning this theme certainly touches on religious faith and natural science. Moreover, since the rapid development of modern natural science, the highlight has become the impact which it causes on religious faith. Of course, natural science does not affect only religious faith; it also affects certain non-religious spiritual values that base themselves on the quest for spiritual values. Under the strong influence of natural science, all sorts of spiritual values, including religious faith, have been relegated to secondary position. People even predict that the more science progresses, the more religious faith backtracks.(1) Science is crowned with the laurel of the Omnipotent, enthroned as the sole Emperor of human knowledge. Under the radiating beams of this laureate crown, science seems to have become the mighty key to solving all problems of mankind. Men worship this Emperor with utmost respect...
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| Issue 7.3 |
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Make a Better City Life
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