墨家天鬼观与《圣经》上帝观之异同

On Similarities and Differences between the Mohist Concept of Gods and Ghosts and the Christian God

墨家天鬼与基督教上帝有着诸多异同。其相同方面主要有:作为一种普适性的标准,不分贫富贵贱;在天人关系中以人的实际需求为中心;都强调精神上的超越性与终极性,引导信徒通过他界来世追求圆满。其相异方面主要是:在终极存在上,上帝是绝对的一神,天鬼则不然;在人神关系上,上帝观通过契约形式传达了一种平等精神,天鬼思想透露的则是神与人的单向的、不平等的关系;在命运上,上帝观所反映的是上帝决定一切的宿命论,而墨家则明确提倡非命说。正确理解这些异同对于深入探究中西历史文化的特点有非常重要的意义。

There are some similarities and differences between the Mohist concept of gods and ghosts and that of the Christian God. The similarities are mainly reflected in three areas. First, both are a universal criterion to all people, rich or poor. Second, both take the people＇s needs as center. Third, both emphasize spiritual transcendence to help disciples to find perfection by the other world. The differences are also mainly reflected in three areas. First, regarding the ultimate existence, God is a monotheist existence while Mohist gods and ghosts are not. Second, as to the relation between gods and man, the Christian idea shows a kind of equality by contract in contrast to Mohist concept of inequality. Third, Christianity believes in the doctrine of predestination while Mohism negates fatalism. To investigate these similarities and differences has an important meaning to understand the characteristics of the Chinese and Western civilization.