圣贤与完全：儒家文化的人性论和道德修养论与基督教的人性论和救赎论之比较

人性论是儒家文化的道德修养论和基督教的救赎论的理论基础和出发点。对人性论的不同认识必然会带来对道德修养论和救赎论的不同理解。本文试图比较儒家文化的人性论和道德修养论与基督教的人性论和救赎论之异同。本文将从三个方面来探讨这一问题：第一方面是分析儒家文化的人性论和道德修养论；儒家的孟子认为人性本善，只要求其放心，存心养性，就可以入圣入贤。儒家的荀子认为人性本恶，但可以通过后天的努力化性起伪、去恶为善，成为圣贤；第二方面是分析基督教的人性论和救赎论；基督教认为人受造之初，本性是善的，但是自从人类的始祖亚当、夏娃受到魔鬼的诱惑滥用自由意志而犯罪堕落之后，人性之中就产生了恶念，变得善恶混杂，导致人在行善时力不从心，只有靠着耶稣基督的救赎才能脱离罪恶的束缚，再透过圣灵的内住和圣化加上人自己不断努力追求，最终可以达到完全；第三方面是比较儒家文化的人性论和道德修养论与基督教的人性论和救赎论二者的异同，并指出基督教的人性论和救赎论可以弥补儒家文化罪的观念的缺乏，并以基督的救赎之道来成全儒家文化的道德理想。儒家文化总的来说并无原罪和救赎的观念，反而肯定人性之中的善，认为人可以自救。基督教则认为自从人类的始祖犯罪堕落之后人性之中既有善，又有恶，这个恶就是人的罪性，这罪性人自己无法摆脱，需要基督的救恩，人不能自救，必须他救。人得救以后还需要在上帝的帮助下努力追求方可最终达到完全。儒家文化对人性过于乐观，强调通过道德教化可以达到自我拯救，缺乏罪和救赎的观念。基督教的人性论和救赎论可以弥补儒家文化的不足，并为人们提供一种信仰资源和内在动力来成全儒家文化的道德理想，从而为中华民族的伦理道德建设做出贡献。

關鍵字

人性论；道德修养论；救赎论；圣贤；完全

並列摘要

The theory of human nature is the starting point and theoretical foundation for the moral cultivation of Confucian culture and Christian salvation. Different acknowledgement of the theory of human nature will inevitably lead to different understandings of the theory of moral cultivation and salvation. This article attempts to compare the human nature and moral cultivation theory of Confucian culture with Christian theory of human nature and redemption and find their similarities and differences. The article will discuss the issue from three aspects: The first is to analyze the theory of human nature and moral cultivation of Confucian culture. Mencius of Confucianism believes that human nature is inherently good, if only one retrieves the goodness of human nature and cultivates it, one can become a sage. The Confucian Xunzi believes that human nature is inherently evil, through human efforts of turning evil into good, one can become a sage. The second aspect is to analyze the Christian theory of human nature and redemption. Christianity insists that at the beginning of the creation, human nature is good, but since Adam and Eve’s fall, the first ancestors of humankind who were tempted by the devil to abuse their free will, the evil thoughts have arisen in human nature. Human nature became a mixture of good and evil, causing people to be incapable of doing good. Only by relying on the salvation of Jesus Christ, one can be released from the bondage of sin; and through the indwelling and sanctification of the Holy Spirit, and the continuous efforts of humankind, one can achieve perfection. The third aspect is to compare the theory of human nature and moral cultivation in Confucian culture with the theory of human nature and redemption in Christianity. And it points out that the Christian theory of human nature and redemption can make up for the lack of the concept of sin in Confucian culture, and it can fulfill the moral ideals of Confucian culture by the redemption of Christ. Generally speaking, Confucian culture does not have the concept of original sin and redemption. Instead, it affirms the goodness in human nature and believes that people can save themselves. Christianity insists that since the fall of the ancestors of humankind, there is both good and evil in human nature. Since the evil is the sinful nature of humankind, so human beings cannot get rid of this sinful nature by themselves and be in need of Christ’s salvation. One cannot save oneself! One can only be saved by Jesus Christ. After being saved, one still needs to work hard. And with God's help, one can reach perfection finally. Confucian culture is too optimistic about human nature, emphasizing that self-salvation can be achieved through moral cultivation, it lacks the concept of sin and salvation. Christian theory of human nature and redemption can make up for the shortcomings of Confucian culture, and provide people with a belief resource and internal motivation to fulfill the moral ideals of Confucian culture, thereby contribute to the construction of Chinese ethics and morality for the nation.