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Chinese Christian Sutras

Chinese Christian Sutras. Where was Christianity in 600?. Europe Arians in north (Germany) and west (Spain) Irish Celts have been Christianized Scandinavia not yet Christian Middle East Mix of Jewish, Christian, other (Zoroastrian) Will quickly become Islamic (600s-700s) Africa

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Chinese Christian Sutras

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  1. Chinese Christian Sutras

  2. Where was Christianity in 600? • Europe • Arians in north (Germany) and west (Spain) • Irish Celts have been Christianized • Scandinavia not yet Christian • Middle East • Mix of Jewish, Christian, other (Zoroastrian) • Will quickly become Islamic (600s-700s) • Africa • Northern coast (becomes Muslim by 700s) • Egypt retains Christian community (Copts) • Ethiopia • Asia • Missionaries from Syria go east into Asia, through Persia • India had small Syrian Christian communities (not native) • China: monasteries along trade routes

  3. Inculturation • Religion always needs to be translated into local culture and ideas • In Roman empire: Greco-Roman philosophy, political structures • In China: Buddhist ideas • In Christianity, this relies on “incarnational principle” • God can be “translated” into human in Christ • So too Christian beliefs can be translated into other cultures

  4. Christianity in China • Isolated communities by 600s and 700s • Established by Syrian Christians • Along international trade route, “the Silk Road” • Evidence: Christians in China by 635 • Perhaps 12 monasteries, ca. 3000 Christians • Did not last • Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim missionaries active along Silk Road • Chinese gov’t was Confucian • 845: gov’t banned “foreign religions” (Christian, Zoroastrian, Buddhist) • Monks and nuns had to leave China or be secularize

  5. Chinese Christian sutras • Modeled on Buddhist sutras (scriptures) • Discussion • What elements sound Eastern/Buddhist? • What elements are same as Western Christianity? • Does inculturation enhance the message of Christianity? Change it?

  6. For next time • Christianization of Russia • How did a whole region become Christianized? Forcibly? • Why did the prince choose Eastern Christianity? • What roles does politics play in deciding the religion of a country?

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