Authors & Affiliations: Pan Ng A.Y.J., China Graduate School of Theology, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

Pages: 9 - 42

Abstract: Over the past decade, the topic of spiritual formation has been increasingly discussed in Chinese Protestant churches and courses on Christian spirituality and spiritual formation have been taught in many theological seminaries. In this paper, I suggest an approach to studying traditional Christian spiritual classics. This approach engages the experience, the background and the anthropological foundation of the authors of those spiritual classica It also tackles the main thoughts and the mode of spiritual formation in the text, and their insights to contemporary spiritual formation. This paper is an attempt to introduce one of the Christian classics, Ignatius's Spiritual Exercises, to Chinese churches Here, I investigate Ignatius's approach to spiritual formation and his Christ-centered anthropology as set out in the Spiritual Exercises I analyze this topic through three main themes; Ignatius's individual experience of spiritual formation in his "pilgrimage of the imitation of Christ", Ignatius's approach to that concept in the Spiritual Exercises and Ignatius's description of his Christ-centered anthropology and its structure. Finally, I conclude that Ignatius's approach to spiritual formation through the imitation of Christ has to be understood through his Christ-centered anthropology. In this investigation, I demonstrate that Christian spiritual classics are an important resource for contemporary spiritual formation and Ignatius's holistic approach to spiritual formation can provide insights for contemporary churches. Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Anthropology; Ignatius of loyola; Spirituality; The imitation of Christ; The spiritual formation

Authors & Affiliations: Donghua Z., Department of History, Hangzhou Normal University, China

Pages: 43 - 72

Abstract: About 120,000-200,000 Chinese laborers worked for Allied troops during WWI. 80% of them were illiterate and they encountered many language barriers and difficulties. Some members of the North American YMCA came to Britain and France to help them, especially by teaching them to read. James Yen and his colleagues initiated a new movement to teach the laborers. They compiled a new basic Chinese characters book and a new paper called Chinese Laborer's Weekly, both of which were very useful in evangelizing and civilizing the laborers in order to positively affect the construction of a new nation at home. This also blazed a new trail for removing illiteracy in modern China Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Anti-illiteracy; James Yen; New-Citizen Chinese laborers in WWI; YMCA

Authors & Affiliations: Tsai Y.-Z., Graduate Institute of Religious Studies, National Chengchi University, China

Pages: 73 - 96

Abstract: This paper explores What is Religion? and How to Study It?, two questions that have again captured great attention among scholars of religion in recent decades. It first refutes scientific reductionism as a product of the Enlightenment that tends to reify religion. It also questions the dualistic mode of rJiinking that separates the researcher from the believer. Instead, it proposes a thesis that linkens religion to music, considering it essential both from epistemological and hermeneutic points of view. To substantiate this stance, the paper proceeds on two levels, one individual or psychological, the other corporate. For the former, it draws on the theories brought about by Friedrich Schleiermacher, Rudolf Otto, and William James as support For the latter, it refers to the insights of Andrew M. Greeley and Alfred Schütz for inspiration. AU in all, the paper affirms that human agency is the subject and the centrality of religion. Although religious expressions are diverse, human religiosity is universally delicate, sensitive, and holistic It is highly appropriate, the paper argues, to compare it to the learning of music, if one intends to understand it This analogical approach, the paper concludes, views religion as an integral whole and, as well, reminds the researcher of the importance of such indispensable commitments as attentive listening, participation, and his or her role as an interpretive mediator. Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Music; Ontology; Poetry; Scientific reductionism; The study of religion

Authors & Affiliations: Jim Z., College of Chinese Language and Literature, Shaanxi Normal University, China

Pages: 97 - 130

Abstract: Mohist ethic was closer to the Puritan ethic than any other ethic of Hundred Schools. In the same was as the Puritans, Mohists insisted on a form of worldly ascetic ethic in the field of economy. Both groups affirmed the legitimacy of pursuing benefits and coUecting money, and highlighted the asceticism of hard work and frugality. As Christians, the Puritans believed in God and in the love command, while Mohists believed in the will of heaven and insisted the principle of loving each other as well. However, these similarities were merely superficial. There were qualitative differences between the Mohist ethic and that of the Puritans. Against the background of eternal salvation, the Puritan ethic founded the soteriological significance in the worldly works of career by the idea of Calling, and transformed the anxiety caused by predestination into the spiritual power of working and asceticism, which rationally organized and planned life practice in society. Above all, they believed that rationalized organization and planning of economic activities would finally transform natural wealth into capital that would continue to make a profit This economic rationalism was the core of the capitalist spirit Mohist beliefs did not own such a religious culture. They insisted rather on the ascetically economic ethic of hard work and frugality in order to meet social needs, sharing social wealth and fulfilling the political appeals in the real world. These were their highest ideals. The modem commercial spirit did not exist in the Mohist ethic The Mohist ethic belonged to an economic traditionalism which could not generate any real commercial spirit, having nothing to do with the capital-motivated spirit Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Ascetic ethic; Economy; Mohist; Puritan; Rationality

Authors & Affiliations: Chao H.-H., Department of English, National Taichung University of Education, China

Pages: 131 - 160

Abstract: This paper gives an overview of mid-seventeenth-century English millenarianism by tracing Menasseh ben Israel's Christian relations. Following Richard Popkin, I treat miUenarianism not so much a political movement as a theological thought and agree that seventeenth-century English millenarians were predominantly philo-semitic Starting with the Jewish Indian theory, my paper demonstrates that millenarianism in mid-seventeenth-century England was a widespread theological expectation that could not be politically pigeonholed. It was shared by the Fifth Monarchy Men, the Hartiib circle, and even the royalists. Moreover, I challenge Popkin's definition of millenarianism by pointing out that some of the "millenarians" did not mention or even believe in the future terrestrial millennial kingdom. Furthermore, I maintain that one of the theological cornerstones of philo-semitic millenarianism was the identification of the millennial kingdom with the Fifth Monarchy, without which Menasseh's messianism could not easily lend itself to English millenarianism. Lastly, I argue that the failure of the Whitehall Conference of 1655 marked a transformation of English millenarianism. Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Hartiib circle; Jewish Indian theory; Menasseh ben Israel; Messianism; Millenarianism

Authors & Affiliations: Tibiao G., Faculty of Liberal Arts and Communication, Ningbo University, China

Pages: 161 - 182

Abstract: Contemporary Saint Paul Renaissance, a non-religious reading of Paul in the field of politics and philosophy, presents a political theology image of the alliance of historical materialism and Christian theology marshalled against the new Roman Empire. In traditional Pauline theology, the heart of the theological doctrine lies within the transformation from law to grace through belief in Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. Correspondingly, in Saint Paul Renaissance discourse, the heart of the political theology lies within the transformation from being to event, from nature order to pnuema order through the messianic event, and it leads to the réévaluation of the dominating discourses of capitalism. The new human subjects, who own the sovereignty of life, come into being during this revolutionary transformation. These subjects, as Pauline materialists, follow the new mode of political life, such as without, not.Jbut, as not, perverse. They can reformulate the political theology situation which had been completely dominated by the discourse of law Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Political theology; Saint Paul; Subject