The 8th session of the Guangzhou Master's Lecture on the Sinicization of Christianity was carried out at a church in Guangdong Province.
On Sep 25, 2018, He Zhangrong, a professor and the doctorate supervisor of the History Department of South China Normal University, was invited to deliver a lecture at Tianhe Church in Guangzhou, reported Guangzhou CC&TSPM.
Guangzhou CC&TSPM planned to hold monthly lectures on the localization of Christianity in China by experts from universities in China for pastors and members of the churches in Guangzhou for this year.
The theme of the 8th lecture is "what are religious studies". This theme is expanded into a narrative on the basis of the four core questions: what is religion, what is the essence of religion, what are the common factors and types of religions, and what are religious studies?
According to Professor He, religion is a social activity consisting of guiding ideology, organizations, behaviors and culture, developing spiritual life, as well as having a profound and broad influence on most people in the world.
The essence of religion, in the view of cultural theology by Paul Tilichy, a well-known German doctor of philosopher, is of ultimate concern.
Religions differentiate in the aspects of their objects of faiths, doctrines, and rituals. However, they do share the same basic factors and types, externally and internally, said Professor He, before he introduced the definition of religious studies. Religions have long history and religious studies are a new and interdisciplinary kind of humanities, independent and to-be-systematic.
Professor He's lecture allowed the pastors and members of the churches in Guangzhou understand how to facilitate integration of Christianity and Chinese culture on the basics of broadened views on their own religion and observation and thinking of the position and characteristics of Christianity among various religions in the world.
- Translated by Lin Changfeng
