張曉梅 譯

On the Five Theories of Interreligious Dialogue

Zhang Zhigang

Abstract: Interreligious dialogue is a much heated subject and a forefront field of research in the

international academia of religious studies. This article gives a brief summary of the five most

influential theories of religious dialogue, i.e. exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralism, compatiblism

and practicalism, and tries a comparative methodological reflection on them. The author believes

that all the five have their theoretical bases not to be dismissed; they all have both merits and

deficiencies that need to be reviewed thoroughly. Thus for a discussion of the difficult questions

in the field of Interreligious dialogue and our search for theoretical breakthroughs, it would be

of great help if we can reflect from a theological-philosophical perspective on the academic

controversy among the five, balancing the theoretical tensions among them.

Key Words: Five theories of Interreligious dialogueMethodological reflection

Religious Capital: krom Bouraieu to stark Author Terry ReyEdited and Translated by Li Wenbin

Abstract: The notion of"religious capital" is central to the development of rational choice theory. However,

definitions of the term are sometimes elusive and/or divorced from its original intellectual

architecture(s), and two streams of thought on the term have emerged without much confluence or

conversation: one largely European and sprung from the work of Max Weber and Pierre Bourdieu;

the other largely American and sprung from the work of Laurence Iannaccone and Rodney Stark.

Terry Rey assesses the two streams of thought comparatively, while tracing the genealogy and

considering certain applications and criticisms of the concept of religious capital and its younger

theoretical sibling "spiritual capital", and proposes two original modifications of the term

("institutional religious capital" and "popular religious capital") toward overcoming problematic

issues identified in the scholarly literature.

Key Words: Religious capitalRational choiceInstitutional capitalPopular capital

Judaism in Contemporary North America

Xu Xin

Abstract: As the father of all monotheisms, Judaism shows its essential in two aspects: to have faith in God

and to obey the Law. As faith in God has been seen merely as the premise of Judaism, it has never

put much emphasis on a discussion of the essence of God. Thus to obey the Law has become the

virtual subject of Judaism. Whether or not one obeys the law in his/her daily life is the criterion

between Judaism and other forms of monotheism. It is also the criterion to accept one as an

observant Jew. Jews and Judaism are inseparable, which manifests itself in the daily observance

of the Law, although the degree varies in different times. Herein Judaism puts much emphasis

on observance of the Law in one's everyday life, but it is not a rigid religion. As to the meaningsof the Law, it has left a window for "free" interpretations. It allows each generation of theJewish people to interpret the Law from their own time, place and actual life conditions, makingadditions or deductions as necessary. New interpretations can be given that will meet people'sneeds and guide their lives. Today's Jews in North America show a great pluralism in theirpractice of the Jewish law. It's a vivid indication of the Jewish tradition of free interpretation ofthe Law and taking new thoughts into the system. To know more about the new faces of Judaismin contemporary North America will help us understand its development trends in today's world.

Key Words: JudaismLawNorth American

On the Particularism of Jews

Fu Youde

Abstract: Particularism is a feature of the Jews. It is contained in the basic faith and doctrines of Judaism

and manifested in the life style, thinking pattern, history and reality of the Jewish people. The

prominence shown by Jews in various fields has a lot to do with this partieularism. At the same

time, it has contributed to a certain degree to the miseries and sufferings of the people. The

purpose of partieularism is to draw a line between Judaism and other religions, thus separating

Jews from gentiles. Particularism of the Jews and their insistence upon conducting themselves

differently from other peoples in the world are theoretically rooted in the values of freedom and

equality in the Bible, and can be traced back ultimately to a particular monotheism. To understand

the particularism of the Jews can be of great importance for the Chinese people who generally

uphold universalism.

Key Words: ParticularismJewish life styleThinking patternFreedom and equality

Investigation into the Economic Conditions of Church Members in the City-Country Conjunct Region: A Case Study on D Town, S City

Tao Feiya, Wang Enle

Abstract: The D church in S City, located in the city-country conjunct area of a metropolis, is constituted

mostly by peasant workers. Our research shows that members of the church are underedueated;

most of them work as temporary workers or contract workers, or in self-employment, their

income lower than that of an average city resident. Participation in church activities does not

show a significant impact on their economic conditions, but Christian faith has a positive effect

on their economic morals and business honesty. At the same time, religious faith apparently can

provide comfort to a person living in an unstable, dangerous economic environment. The authors

have found that the D church is not an example of the mutual advancing effect between Protestant

ethics and economic development as proposed by Max Weber. Improvement of the economic

conditions of peasant worker church members in the city-country conjunct region depends on

non-religious factors.

Key Words: Christian faithEconomic conditions study