When it comes to the afterlife, Seventh-day Adventists advocate ＂soul sleep＂ condition, in which the dead person is in some sort of suspended state until the final judgment. On the other hand, many Evangelical Chris...When it comes to the afterlife, Seventh-day Adventists advocate ＂soul sleep＂ condition, in which the dead person is in some sort of suspended state until the final judgment. On the other hand, many Evangelical Christians believe that the dead go directly to Heaven to be with the Lord. But in Roman Catholicism, purgatory is considered as the place where most dead believers expiate their remaining sins before entering the visible presence of God. This doctrine has been criticized extensively both by Catholics and Evangelicals in spite of its massive defence by the Holy office. Several alternative views about the resurrection of the dead have been propounded by some twentieth-century Protestants and some notable Catholic theologians. Although the doctrine of purgatory has been approved and reaffirmed by several Church councils, the questions that still remain are： Is the doctrine of purgatory biblically justifiable？ Does the work of salvation extend beyond the grave？ This study attempts to find answers to these questions. The study therefore surveys the doctrine of purgatory in the light of the biblical teachings about death. The second section surveys the background to the doctrine with reference to Judaism, the Apocrypha, the New Testament, the Church Fathers, and Church Councils. The third section looks at the nature of purgatory, the duration and the nature of the punishment meted out to those who go to purgatory and how souls are released from purgatory. The fourth section also examines the biblical teaching on death. The study concludes that the doctrine of purgatory is based on tradition rather than the Bible. The Bible emphasizes the finality of one＇s destiny in this life rather than after this life.展开更多
It is widely recognized that each culture has a specific effect on the economic development. Based on Chinese culture which can be characterized as lack of afterlife, the pattern of Chinese economic development has di...It is widely recognized that each culture has a specific effect on the economic development. Based on Chinese culture which can be characterized as lack of afterlife, the pattern of Chinese economic development has distinctive features relative to the economy of the Western world, even to that of Japan and Korea. This paper argues that culture influences economic development through two paths： One is that some cultural factors, as certain institutions, have effects on cost, especially transaction costs. Another point is that culture forms people＇s preferences and influences people＇s choices. With the influences of Chinese culture, Chinese have a weak sense for legal obedience and strong inclination for ＂free riding＂, this would increase social transaction costs. The family centered tradition of Chinese society results in Chinese features such as being good at individual struggles but poor at cooperation, the alienation between civil society and government, a strong sense for competition and a weak sense for legal obedience, seeing material wealth as important and neglecting scientific innovation. Traditional Chinese culture also has effects on the developmental pattern of Chinese enterprises展开更多
Controversies over the inheritance of online profiles highlight the urgent need for legislation on the status of virtual assets Recently,a woman surnamed Wang in Shenyang City,northeast China’s Liaoning Province,cont...Controversies over the inheritance of online profiles highlight the urgent need for legislation on the status of virtual assets Recently,a woman surnamed Wang in Shenyang City,northeast China’s Liaoning Province,contacted Tencent,operator of China’s most popular instant messaging展开更多
文摘When it comes to the afterlife, Seventh-day Adventists advocate ＂soul sleep＂ condition, in which the dead person is in some sort of suspended state until the final judgment. On the other hand, many Evangelical Christians believe that the dead go directly to Heaven to be with the Lord. But in Roman Catholicism, purgatory is considered as the place where most dead believers expiate their remaining sins before entering the visible presence of God. This doctrine has been criticized extensively both by Catholics and Evangelicals in spite of its massive defence by the Holy office. Several alternative views about the resurrection of the dead have been propounded by some twentieth-century Protestants and some notable Catholic theologians. Although the doctrine of purgatory has been approved and reaffirmed by several Church councils, the questions that still remain are： Is the doctrine of purgatory biblically justifiable？ Does the work of salvation extend beyond the grave？ This study attempts to find answers to these questions. The study therefore surveys the doctrine of purgatory in the light of the biblical teachings about death. The second section surveys the background to the doctrine with reference to Judaism, the Apocrypha, the New Testament, the Church Fathers, and Church Councils. The third section looks at the nature of purgatory, the duration and the nature of the punishment meted out to those who go to purgatory and how souls are released from purgatory. The fourth section also examines the biblical teaching on death. The study concludes that the doctrine of purgatory is based on tradition rather than the Bible. The Bible emphasizes the finality of one＇s destiny in this life rather than after this life.
文摘It is widely recognized that each culture has a specific effect on the economic development. Based on Chinese culture which can be characterized as lack of afterlife, the pattern of Chinese economic development has distinctive features relative to the economy of the Western world, even to that of Japan and Korea. This paper argues that culture influences economic development through two paths： One is that some cultural factors, as certain institutions, have effects on cost, especially transaction costs. Another point is that culture forms people＇s preferences and influences people＇s choices. With the influences of Chinese culture, Chinese have a weak sense for legal obedience and strong inclination for ＂free riding＂, this would increase social transaction costs. The family centered tradition of Chinese society results in Chinese features such as being good at individual struggles but poor at cooperation, the alienation between civil society and government, a strong sense for competition and a weak sense for legal obedience, seeing material wealth as important and neglecting scientific innovation. Traditional Chinese culture also has effects on the developmental pattern of Chinese enterprises
文摘Controversies over the inheritance of online profiles highlight the urgent need for legislation on the status of virtual assets Recently,a woman surnamed Wang in Shenyang City,northeast China’s Liaoning Province,contacted Tencent,operator of China’s most popular instant messaging
