从“全能统治”到“人类代理”——弗雷德里克·道格拉斯的上帝观评析

From “Omnipotent Domination” to “Human Agent”——Re-exploring Frederick Douglass' Views on God

对上帝权能的认识是解读弗雷德里克·道格拉斯在奴隶制问题上态度变化脉络的关键所在。作为一个相当严肃的循道宗教徒,道格拉斯在战前奴隶制问题上从未否定上帝在神圣领域的全能性。而在世俗领域,由于上帝对自我的权能施加一定的限制,人在奴隶制存废问题上具有了某种行动自由;即使如此,上帝仍以正义的法则和"真理的力量"引导人心的向背,操纵刀剑的威力,决定着历史的发展方向。上帝因此成为"活的上帝"和"被压迫者的上帝",遵循上帝意志、选择正确的自由意志的人们则成为上帝在世间的"人类代理"。

The key to understanding Frederick Douglass＇ changing views on slavery lies in his standpoints on God＇s omnipotence. On the issue of antebellum slavery, Douglass, an earnest Methodist, has never renounced his position that God is always omnipotent in the holy sphere. In the secular sphere, however, man has obtained some freedom of action on the issues of defending or abolishing slavery because of God＇s self- restriction on his own power. Even so, God, by the rule of justice and his ＂power of truth＂, still guides the wills of the people, manipulates the might of sword, and decides the route of history. Thus, God becomes the ＂living God＂ and ＂the God of the oppressed＂, and those who rightly choose to follow his will become the ＂human agent＂ in the secular sphere.