Authors & Affiliations: Ho P.-S., Department of Philosophy (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-Sen University, China

Pages: 7 - 40

Abstract: This article inquires into the specific differences between Plotinus' and Dionysius' negative theologies and their contemporary philosophical significance. The comparative analysis looks beyond their general similarities to focus on their respective features. Its main thesis is that while Dionysius' negative theology aims at attaining mystical knowledge of God, Plotinus' version is intended to dispel the illusion that man can attain henosis. The contemporary interpretation puts Plotinus' and Dionysius' negative theologies in the context of analytic epistemology. It is suggested that although both can be understood as criticisms of the epistemology of propositional religious belief, Dionysius' analysis of mystical knowledge of God is closer to virtue epistemology while Plotinus' approach to human ignorance of the One is more similar to knowledge-first epistemology. Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Dionysius; Knowledge-first epistemology; Negative theology; Plotinus; Virtue epistemology

Authors & Affiliations: Ge Y., Regent College, Canada

Pages: 41 - 64

Abstract: Despite the considerable literature on Confessions, the crucial role of the doctrine of creatio ex nihilo in this classical work has not been suffidendy explored. This paper will argue that the doctrine of creation from nothing plays a fundamental, unifying role in Confessions, in that it provides the theological basis for the undedying theme of the book, namely the relation between God and creatures. Specifically, not only does this doctrine undergird Augustine's understanding of God's simultaneous transcendent and immanent relation to creatures, but his distinctive interpretation of creatio ex nihilo is foundational to his narrative of the soul's journey back to God, a microcosm of the whole creation's movement toward God. Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Being; Creatio ex nihilo; Immanence; Nothing; Transcendence

Authors & Affiliations: Wang Z., Department of Cultural and Religious Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Pages: 65 - 93

Abstract: The article, taking as primary sources the magazine of Tian Feng, the organ of the Chinese Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement, examines why and how Chinese Three-Self Church leaders in Reform China after 1980s interpreted and appropriated different biblical texts in order to argue for the legitimacy of Christian patriotism The first part discusses firstly three types of patriotism reflected in Tian Feng, that is, "national patriotism," "cultural patriotism," and "regime patriotism." It is argued then that Chinese church leaders' searching for the legitimacy of patriotism from the biblical teachings had much to do with Chinese Christians' prevalent belief in the doctrine of "Sola Scriptura" or even in "Biblidsm." The second part focuses on the most controversial issue of "regime patriotism." The New Testament texts about obeying either God or men, together with the Old Testament texts about the gentile emperor Cyrus, were re-interpreted by Three-Self Church leaders. Bearing in mind these texts as well as their judgement of the nature of the current regime and ruling political party, Three-Self Church leaders argued that Chinese Christians ought to obey and even support the socialist China. The key to make this conclusion, however, laid not in the interpretation of related biblical texts, but in their judgement of the nature of the regime; this judgement has determined beforehand what they as interpreters would read into the biblical texts. Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Biblical texts; Patriotism; Political hermeneutics; Three-Self Patriotic Movement; Tian Feng

Authors & Affiliations: Zhao P., Institute of Religious Studies, Sichuan University, China; Chen J., Institute of Religious Studies, Sichuan University, China

Pages: 95 - 117

Abstract: Evangelism (Bu dao za zhi) is a remarkable Christian magazine in Republican era, and its establishment and development are closely related to the life and theology of the chief editor, Chen Chonggui(Marcus Ch'eng, 1884-1964). Chen Chonggui is one of the most important Chinese Fundamentalist church leaders, and under his direction, the Evangelism has gone through three stages: Hunan Bible Institute period; Anti-Japanese War period; Chongqing Theological Seminary period Based upon the Fundamentalist theological position, this magazine is deeply concerned on political and social affairs. Evangelism has a great influence on Chinese Fundamentalist church, and it also reflects Chinese literature ministry's growth and challenges. Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Chen Chonggui; Christianity; Evangelism

Authors & Affiliations: Wei H., School of Philosophy and Social Development, Huaqiao University, China

Pages: 119 - 139

Abstract: Augustine defined happiness as "having God" He initially thought that after conversion anyone can possess this true happiness. However, during the exegeses of Romans 7, he came to realize that even if having transited from "sub lege" to "sub gratia," believers are still in the continuing conflict of sin and punishment, the true happiness can't be poessessed in this life, but has to be delayed into the next life. Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Happiness; Romans 7; Steps of human life

Authors & Affiliations: Tseng S.K., China Evangelical Seminary, Taiwan

Pages: 141 - 174

Abstract: The first part of this article probes into Karl Barth's subject-object dialectic in The Gottingen Dogmatics (1924-25), whereby he tackles the kind of subject-object identification in modem consciousness theology to which Hegel and Schleiermacher gave rise The second part of this article addresses the relevance of Barth's subject-object dialectic to Sino-Christian theology. Akin to the subjectivist theology that Barth challenges, East-Asian philosophy of which Confudan thought lies at the center does not posit in general a dualist distinction between the subject and object of knowing as do Platonic-Cartesian traditions. As Feuerbach's criticism demonstrates, such subjectivist methods would inevitably entail for Christian theology an anthropological essence. Barth's proposal of the objectives of Christian theology in The Gottingen Dogmatics for overcoming this dilemma sheds light on the possible developments of Sino-Christian theology: to affirm God's absolute subjectivity in the act of revelation, God's true objectivity and knowability to the human subject in this event of divine act, and God's unchanging aseity and transcendence even in this self-giving event. Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Barth; Modem consciousness theology; Sino-christian theology; Subject-object dialectic; The Göttingen Dogmatics