Confucian-Yoga Dialogue and Ecological Concern

Author: Lai Pin-chao, Lin Hong-xing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: In recent years, due to globalization and related issues such as ecological crises, there has been a shift in interfaith dialogue, moving from a focus on the similarities and differences between religions to contemporary issues that are of common concern to people from different religious backgrounds. This has led to the emergence of discussions on global ethics. These global issues, apart from human rights, include environmental protection as another highly topic. Some scholars who are passionate about interfaith dialogue have even directly proposed that interfaith dialogue should take environmental protection as a prerequisite and fundamental concern. This ecological turn (ecological turn) in interfaith dialogue has also appeared in recent dialogues between Christianity and Confucianism. In the past, many discussions were primarily concentrated on historical encounters or comparative studies of their thoughts, especially regarding the theories of human nature, transcendence, and the inner in Christianity and Confucianism. In recent years, however, dialogues have emerged with themes such as ecology or bioethics. This book can be said to concretely present this shift. The book aims to demonstrate that the turn toward ecological concern can promote dialogue between Confucianism and Christianity, benefiting the development of both. Furthermore, further communication between the two, along with the resulting developments in ecological discourse, will help us address contemporary ecological issues.
The book consists of three chapters written by Lai Pin-chao. On one hand, it attempts to clarify some unnecessary misunderstandings between Christianity and Confucianism, and on the other hand, it points out the necessity, desirability, and feasibility of the ecological turn in Confucian-Christian dialogue. This not only helps with environmental issues but also fosters mutual understanding between Christianity and Confucianism.
Chapter 1, "The Innate Nature of the Transcendent and the Transcendence of the Innate—Mou Zongsan's Distinction Between Christianity and Confucianism," attempts to respond to Mou Zongsan's views on transcendence and the innate from a Christian theological perspective. The chapter argues that the distinction between Christianity and Confucianism is not as simple as Mou Zongsan proposed, dividing it into external transcendence and innate transcendence. In the theological traditions of Christianity, both the concept of God and the concept of humanity include the idea of the transcendent being's innate nature and the transcendence of the innate. Although Christianity and Confucianism differ, they are not as divergent as commonly imagined. Christianity encompasses many different traditions and theological schools, and should not be stereotyped or dismissed without recognizing its similarities to Confucianism.
Chapter 2, "Religion and Ecological Concern," shifts the perspective to ecological concern. By reviewing recent discussions on the topic, it highlights that ecological concern has a religious dimension. Religious worldviews, ethical thought, and religious practices can all influence environmental protection efforts. Furthermore, discussions on ecological issues can inspire ethical transformations within different religions and even foster dialogue and cooperation between them.
Chapter 3, "On Human Nature in Confucian-Christian Dialogue: A View from Ecology," attempts to argue that the theory of human nature is not only a focal point in Confucian-Christian dialogue but also an important topic in environmental ethics. Therefore, even when using ecological concern as the context for Confucian-Christian dialogue, the discussion on human nature is not abandoned but rather placed in a new context. Understanding the theories of human nature in Christianity and Confucianism means seeing more