(Yunnan province – November 21, 2024) The Yunnan Provincial Official Christian Association organized a lecture on the concept of “God” in Chinese classical culture in Yunnan, interpreting Christianity through Chinese classical culture. This lecture seeks to adapt the Christian church to socialist society under the background and political call of “Sinicization of Religion.” 

Lecture on “God” and “Heaven” in Ancient China

According to the China Christian Council (CCC & TSPM), on November 1, the Yunnan Christian Association invited Professor Li Guangliang from the School of Law and Sociology at Yunnan Normal University to Kunming to hold a special lecture.

The lecture, titled “The ‘God’ and ‘Heaven’ in Ancient China,” was held at the Yunnan Theological College. The lecture aimed to reconstruct the sacred connection between the Bible and Chinese classical culture, using Chinese classical studies to interpret Christianity, promote mutual interpretation between the two, and integrate religious doctrines with Chinese culture.

Interpreting “God” and “Heaven” in Chinese Classical Texts

In the lecture, Li Guangliang interpreted the records of “God” and “Heaven” in Chinese Confucian classics such as “The Analects,” “Mencius,” “The Great Learning,” “The Doctrine of the Mean,” “The Book of Songs,” “The Book of Documents,” “The Book of Rites,” “The Book of Changes,” and “The Spring and Autumn Annals,” and compared them with the Christian Bible texts, calling it “Christian Faith in Chinese Culture.”

The report stated that participants expressed their hope to explore new ways for the church to adapt to socialist society through the lecture, integrating basic Christian beliefs, core doctrines, and rituals into traditional Chinese culture, contributing to the localized development of Christianity in Yunnan.

From the perspective of Christian revelatory theology, the Chinese cultural concepts of “God” and “Heaven” are centered on polytheism, natural laws, and moral systems, emphasizing the interactive relationship between humans and “God” and its practical impact on real life. In ancient culture, “God” was considered the embodiment of “Heaven’s” will. For example, sacrificial activities were often conducted to communicate with “Heaven” and “God” and pray for blessings.

The Role of “God” and “Heaven” in Chinese Culture and Religion

“God” and “Heaven” are indispensable concepts in Chinese culture, reflecting the profound thoughts of the Chinese people on nature, the universe, and life. “Heaven” tends to be an abstract cosmic law and ethical morality, while “God” is more of a concrete object of faith or spiritual existence. Together, they form the spiritual world in Chinese culture, influencing various aspects such as history, philosophy, religion, and art.

In contrast, Christianity centers on monotheism, supernatural sanctity, and the concept of salvation, focusing on the ultimate concern for the soul and the relationship with God. God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent, possessing complete transcendence and absolute sanctity. Unlike humans, God does not depend on human offerings for existence. Although God is transcendent, Christianity emphasizes a personal relationship between humans and God (such as a father-son relationship), which differs from the “practical functions” of deities in Chinese culture.

These differences reflect the profound philosophical, religious, and value distinctions between the Christian concept of God and the Chinese concepts of “God” and “Heaven.”

Christian Revelatory Theology and the Chinese Cultural Context

From the perspective of Christian revelatory theology, the two are incomparable. Methodologically, they do not belong to the approach of religious or cultural comparison. Instead, Christians believe that the Bible, as God’s revelation, has its unique revelatory nature, distinct from the spiritual insights or general religious imaginations in Chinese culture. The God of the Bible, with both divinity and personhood, is manifested in the miraculous act of the incarnation of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. The transcendence and immanence of Jesus Christ are absolutely independent of all other created beings and transcend general intellectual understanding and cultural and religious imaginations.

The lecture on the concept of “God” in Chinese classical culture organized by the Yunnan Provincial Official Christian Association can be understood in terms of academic exchange and potential collaboration and interaction between the church and society. However, under the strong political call for “cultural integration” in the context of the Sinicization of religion, it more reflects the principle of “politics leading religion.” The church’s consideration of the Chinese cultural concepts of “God” or “Heaven” is more about the church’s survival and efforts in localized evangelism.

(Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai for China Aid Association)