西方宗教理论下中国宗教研究的困境

Problems in Chinese Religious Studies with Reference to Western Religious Theories

近代以来,中国知识分子一直努力使用西方观念、理论来诠释中国传统文化与信仰,于是在理解中国宗教方面就无法避免地出现了各种问题和困扰。首先是宗教研究的基本词汇和概念问题。中国学者不仅接受了"宗教"等西学词汇和概念,而且在以西方的"宗教"视角来分析中国社会时,竭力靠近西方人对宗教的界定。其次是近代以来中国学者基本上都是以西方宗教价值观来看待和评价宗教在中国之存在,很多自远古以来形成的中国人世界观和共享性精神遗产都无法进入学术讨论的范畴之中,由此带来的问题是中国宗教的主体性解释难以确立、中国宗教研究理论难有突破。因此,摆脱对西方理论的过于依赖已成为中国宗教研究必须突破的瓶颈。

Since the modern time,Chinese scholars have often attempted to interpret Chinese tra-ditional culture and belief with reference to western viewpoints and theories.When studying Chinese religions this way,many problems inevitably arise.First,terms and concepts have been accepted without discrimination in Chinese religion studies.As a result,there has been an inclination to the western understanding of religion.Second,when modern Chinese scholars have dealt with Chinese religion issues from western viewpoints almost without any exception,the rich traditional legacy of Chinese world view may never enter the academic sphere,and no findings in Chinese religion studies can be ontologically indigenous,let a-lone the breakthrough in Chinese religious theories much expected.Therefore,freedom from western influence is the only way to authentic Chinese religion studies.