试析曾国藩的基督教观

Analysis on Zeng Guofan's View of Christianity

作为一种异质文化,基督教是在西力东渐的背景下传入近代中国的。因此,宗教文化与政治成为近代中国人看待基督教的两个重要视角。从宗教文化的角度看,曾国藩对基督教的认识经历了一个从"卫道"对抗到正视其宗教地位的过程;从政治的角度看,曾国藩主张承认传教特权、限制基督教约外侵权,最终希望修改传教条约。总体而论,曾国藩的基督教观经历了一个变化的过程,有其合理性的一面,但也存在自身的缺陷。

As an alien culture,Christianity was spread into modern China under the background of western powers＇ invasion.So religious culture and politics became two viewpoints from which modern Chinese looked on Christianity.From the viewpoint of religious culture,Zeng Guofan＇s attitude towards Christianity changed from anti-Christianity for the ＂protection of Confucianism＂ to value Christianity＇s religion status;from the viewpoint of politics,Zeng Guofan adopted Christianity＇s privilege,limited Christianity＇s invasion outside the treaty,at last he hoped to revise Christian clause of unequal treaty.Generally speaking,Zen Guofan＇s attitude toward Christianity had a course of change,had it＇s rationality and shortcoming.