胡适留学美国期间对基督教的态度以及变化原因

Hu Shi's Attitude towards Christianity and Causes of Change during His Study in America

青年胡适在美国留学期间,曾经表示要成为基督教徒,但很快改变自己的想法,不仅坚定少年时代形成的无神论观点,而且对有神论作了系统批判。不过,他始终对基督教保持一种研究的态度,一直欣赏基督教经典启发性的知识。胡适能够接纳基督教的思想,与他从小受到中国传统文化尤其是老子的宽容思想影响有关。而他改变对基督教的看法,既有中国传统文化的影响,也有实用主义的引导,归结为两点:掌握科学的思想方法论和树立积极向上的乐观精神。

Hu Shi once expressed the idea of becoming a Christian in his youth when he was studying in America, but he soon gave it up. He not only adhered to atheism formed in his juvenile years, but also made a systematic criticism on theism. However, he kept a research attitude towards Christianity all along, enjoying the classical heuristic knowledge of Christianity. That Hu Shi was able to take up Christianity is highly related to the fact of being influenced by Chinese traditional culture, especially Laozi's toleranism. And his change of attitude towards Christianity is both influenced by Chinese traditional culture and directed by pragmatism, which can be summed up in two points: a command of scientific methodology and a possession of positive optimism.