Reign(統治), Righteousness(義), and Self-Cultivation(修養) : A Christian Appraisal of the Confucian Ideals

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 아신대학교 ACTS 신학연구소
· 수록지 정보 : ACTS 신학저널 / 37권 / 245 ~ 286페이지
· 저자명 : 안점식

초록

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the Confucian ideals from a Christian point of view by comparing Confucianism with the Christian worldview, focusing on the concepts of reign(統治), righteousness(義), and self-cultivation(修養). Confucianism dreamed of an ideal state ruled by a holy(聖) and sage(哲) king. A ruler who became self-cultivated(修己) could pursue the politics of “Kingly Way”(王道) that realizes a reign of virtue, the Rites, and benevolence. The ruler held ideal of practicing the Rites(禮) according to principle of righteousness(義理) rather than following his personal interests(私利). In order to realize such an ideal kingdom, the ruler was called to self-cultivation, and an important method in the self-cultivation was to stay in reverence(居敬) for controlling temperament. Confucianism is a this-worldly idealism in that it believes in the possibility of idealistic rule by the cultivated human being. This is based on the Confucian view of human nature as optimistic. Confucianism can be said to be humanistic in that it believes that perfect humanity and perfect society can be achieved by human efforts.
Christianity does not see human nature as optimistic. Man was created in the image of God, but by the results of the Fall it became distorted and corrupt. The essentiality of human sinful nature is a rebellion against the reign of God, and the reign of man without God is bound to bring failure and frustration. However, Christianity proclaims that the kingdom of God, which is reigned by God, will ultimately come. The reign of God has already arrived with the First Coming of Jesus Christ and will come into its fullness by the Second Coming. The righteousness of man cannot be justified before God, and the righteousness of God is imputed to those who accept the atonement of Jesus Christ. The church must now display itself as a sign and instrument of God’s kingdom by representing the reign of God. Christians guided by the Holy Spirit are being sanctified by the Spirit’s reign, to show the restored image of God and God’s reign in this world. Christianity is theocentric in that it believes that ideal rule, justification, and sanctification are all possible with God’s grace.

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