On April 23, 2019, the series of lectures on "Promoting Chinese Excellent Traditional Culture" entered the Fuwan Forum. The Fujian Theological Seminary specially invited Professor Ma Xisha from the Institute of World Religions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to bring the theme of "Cultural Determinism" to the teachers and students of the whole school, focusing on the topic of academic lectures.
Professor Ma Xisha first mentioned the long-standing relationship between "civilization" and "culture". Civilization is the intrinsic value of culture. Culture is the external form of civilization. Civilization is not a simple conflict, but is produced in competition and mutually beneficial in learning.
By comparing "the ancient Greek civilization", "the ancient Egyptian civilization", "the two-river civilization" and "the Chinese civilization", he presents the Greek mythology and Chinese mythology, the primitive religious sources of the West and the historical classics of the birth of Chinese folk religions. Professor Ma said that although the history between different civilizations and cultures is far apart, the similarities are self-evident.
"A great culture determines the way out for a nation," Professor Ma Xisha said. He described the evolution of "religion" and "civilized culture" in the history of the Chinese nation with the development of the local Chinese religion, Taoism, combined with traditional Confucianism, and European religions and Indian religions as background.
Professor Ma said that the era we are in is the best era ever. In fact, the so-called "cultural determinism" means that culture determines the future of a nation. It can lead China to the other side of a brighter hope.
Pastor Yue Qinghua said that the future Christianity must not only be cultural but also religious, and it also adds confidence to the students to serve on the ministry field. In the final question and answer session, Professor Ma Xisha's wonderful answers to the questions of "Taoism in China", "Christianization's localization in China" and "Multiculturalism and Cultural Inclusion" also won the applause of every one.
Translated by Ze Wang
