Inscrutability and its Discontents

That reference is inscrutable is demonstrated, it is argued, not only by W. V. Quine's arguments but by Peter Unger's “Problem of the Many.” Applied to our own language, this is a paradoxical result, since nothing could be more obvious to speakers of English than that, when they use the word “rabbit,” they are talking about rabbits. The solution to this paradox is to take a disquotational view of reference for one's own language, so that “When I use ‘rabbit,’ I refer to rabbits” is made true by the meaning of the word “refer.” The reference relation is extended to other languages by translation. The explanation for this peculiarly egocentric conception of semantics—questions of others’ meanings are settled by asking what I mean by words of my language—is to be found in our practice of predicting and explaining other people's behavior by empathetic identification. I understand other people's behavior by asking what I would do in their place.     

A Different World: Neoscholasticism and its Discontents

Abstract:  The anti-Modernist Oath (1910) sets the background for this historical account of the tension in twentieth-century Roman Catholic theology between those suspected of 'Modernism' and the exponents of Aristotelian Thomism. The article discusses the modernist crisis by tracing the thought of Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange (a strict observer of Thomism) and his student Marie-Dominique Chenu (a dissenter of the neoscholastic view). Chenu established the historical-contextualist reading of Thomas Aquinas which was regarded as a threat to the standard neoscholastic exposition of Thomism, which he felt was heavily influenced by Wolffian rationalism. As a result, Vatican II finally rejects the neoscholastic conception of reason. The article concludes by recognizing the need for a historical-contextualist reading of Thomas but fears that the new philosophical system is not sufficiently scrutinized.     

AIDS: Globalization and Its Discontents

Abstract. HIV/AIDS has changed from a disease of white gay men in the United States to a pandemic that largely involves women and dependent children in developing countries. Many theologies of disease are necessary to cope with the variety of expressions of this pandemic. Christian theoethical reflection on HIV/AIDS has been largely focused on sexual ethics, with uneven and mainly unhelpful results. Among the ethical issues that shape future useful conversations are globalized economics and resource sharing, the morality and economics of the pharmaceutical industry, and the need for sex education and access to reproductive choice. Considering such issues in international, interreligious, multiscientific contexts is a concrete next step for the religion‐and‐science dialogue. It will put the powerful tools of both fields to the service of the common good.     

The Charismatic Movement and the Secularization Thesis

A brief account of the secularization approach is presented with some rebuttal of common criticisms and it is argued that the charismatic renewal movement in Britain, far from refuting secularization, is the kind of religious expression one would expect in an increasingly secular society.     

Spirituality and Its Discontents: Practices in Jonathan Edwards's Charity and Its Fruits

The contemporary interest in spiritual experience has some theological and ethical ambiguity. To what extent does it reflect genuine engagement with the sacred, to what extent is it dabbling in experience without adequate interpretation or moral commitment? Jonathan Edwards faced similar challenges in his sermons on 1 Cor 13, Charity and Its Fruits. Alasdair MacIntyre and Pierre Hadot have explored the constitutive role of practices in forming of virtues and transmitting a way of life. Their writings help show the continuing relevance of the spiritual practices that  Edwards advocated, particularly self‐examination, healing by contraries, and solidarity.     

从明清文学作品看道教仙境观念世俗化

这篇文章主要介绍了道教仙境观念世俗化的几种基本表现方式,如仙境地理观念的改变、仙境的象征化和美学化以及这类变化中的道教观念在明清时期的文学作品中留下的明显痕迹。通过这样的比较,我们可以发现道教宗教观念在世俗化大趋势下所产生的种种演变以及随之而来所形成的巨大社会影响。     

政府在世俗化过程中的角色

本文以北京东岳庙的恢复为例,讨论政府在社会变迁过程中的作用及其角色的多面性。世俗化和非世俗化是国际社会学家对50多年来世界不同地区宗教消沉或复兴的描述方式。在20世纪的中国政府对传统宗教的管理是世界世俗化运动的特殊表现。本文认为最近30年中国形成了新的宗教市场,政府的参与说明中国的世俗化力量还没有彻底摆脱传统宗教的生存形态。     

从温州宗教现状看宗教的世俗化

本文以实地调查材料揭示了新时期温州宗教的发展和重大变化,指出在经济体制急剧改革和社会经济迅速发展的背景下,广大教徒的思想观念、价值取向和生活方式都表现出明显的世俗化倾向;他们更关注物质世界和世俗利益,宗教保守主义和禁欲主义受到了极大的挑战。并指出在市场经济和世俗文化的冲击下,宗教自身水准下降,内涵和灵修削弱,宗教道德滑坡等消极腐败现象。文章还针对温州宗教现状及其走向提出了自己的看法。