恩格斯晚年宗教研究的方法及价值意蕴

The Method and Value Implication of Engels's Religious Studies in His Later Years

以往的研究通常把恩格斯置于马克思的影响之下,严重低估恩格斯对马克思主义的贡献。对于马克思主义宗教理论而言,恩格斯的贡献体现为对其理论内涵的扩展,对其研究方法的推进以及对社会实践的指导价值。唯物史观作为整体性的方法论可以细分为多种研究方法。恩格斯晚年宗教研究采用文献分析的方法对圣经新约展开详细的研究;运用历史分析的方法对耶稣的历史性展开研究;运用阶级分析的方法对原始基督教的革命性进行考察;特别重要的是,恩格斯运用科学分析的方法对圣经展开批判研究,有效地推动圣经研究范式的转变,为科学的圣经批判提供基本原则和规范。恩格斯不是圣经批判的开创者,却是科学圣经批判的发起人。就其理论贡献和实践价值而言,恩格斯晚年宗教研究所用的方法直到现在仍然需要我们重视。

Previous studies always placed Engels under the influence of Marx and largely underestimated Engels's contribution to Marxism.As for Marxist religious theory,Engels's contribution reflects in his expansion of the connotation of the theory,his advancement of the research methods and its value in providing guidance on practice.The historical materialism as a holistic methodology can be subdivided into a variety of research methods.In his later years of religious research,Engels used the method of document analysis to conduct a detailed study of the New Testament,historical analysis to the historicity of Jesus,class analysis to the revolutionary nature of primitive Christianity and especially,scientific analysis to the critical research on the Bible,which effectively promoted the transformation of the paradigm of Bible study,and provided basic principles and norms for scientific Biblical criticism.Engels was not the initiator of Biblical criticism,but he was the initiator of scientific Biblical criticism.In terms of its theoretical contribution and practical value,the method applied by Engels to religious studies in his later years still needs our attention.