在回應儒家學者認為基督教的上帝乃純粹超越的觀點時,基督教三一論正好說明上帝既超越又內在,其中莫特曼的聖靈論更深刻揭示上帝的內蘊性。莫特曼的聖靈論分為教會、個人、宇宙三大部分,他傾向聖靈主導的教會組織過於科層的架構。順著他對教會建制的批評,他建議在祭司神學以外發展信眾神學。莫特曼同意宗教改革者保持聖靈與聖道的平衡,卻強調個人經歷聖靈的向度不應被忽視。個人對聖靈的經歷指向社會的位際性。在後現代處境中,人亦需要兼容上帝終末性及宇宙性的經驗。按莫特曼的理解,舊約聖經中「上帝的寓居」象徵上帝在以色列歷史及在宇宙中臨在。本文的最後部分亦觸及莫特曼聖靈論與中國氣化宇宙觀的對話。按中國宇宙論觀點,氣分為陰、陽後發出宇宙創生的動力。在開放的宇宙系統中,人與超越界聯合的機會是開放的。因此,長久以來儒家學說被視為完滿自足、既同在亦超越。可是,莫特曼的終末及宇宙聖靈論展示基督教本著上帝既是超越的終極實體,又是內住於世界的聖靈的論點,印證人、宇宙、上帝的和諧關係。莫特曼的聖靈論將上帝的超越性與內在性表露無遺,實在是基督教與儒學對話的平台。
In responding to the view of some Confucianists that God is purely transcendence, Christian doctrine of Trinity shows that God is both transcendence and immanence; the pneumatology of Jürgen Moltmann particularly can reveal the immanency of God. His pneumatology could be divided into three main parts: ecclesiastical, personal and cosmic renewal. Moltmann prefers a pneumatological ecclesiastic structure rather than a hierarchical one. Following his criticism of the church hierarchy, Moltmann proposes to develop layman theology besides priestly theology. He agrees with the Reformers to maintain a good balance between Holy Word and Holy Spirit, and the subjective dimension of personal experience of the Holy Spirit should not be neglected; such subjective experience points to social inter-subjectivity. In the postmodern context, we should also include the eschatological and cosmic dimensions in our experience of God. According to Moltmann, the "Schechina" of God in the Old Testament symbolizes the presence of God in the history of Israel and in the cosmos. The last part of this article discusses the dialogue between Moltmann's pneumatology and the Chinese's Chi Cosmology. From the perspective of Chinese cosmology, the separation of Chi into Yin and Yang caused the self-creating force of the universe; within such cosmic system, it is open for human to unite with the transcendence. Therefore, for a long time Confucianism has claimed itself to be a self-sufficient, "immanent transcendence" philosophy that surpasses Christianity, which is thought to be lacking the immanent dimension. However, Moltmann's eschatological and cosmic pneumatology shows that Christianity, based on a God who is at the same time the transcendental and ultimate entity and the Holy Spirit dwelling in the world, has proved a harmonious relation among human, cosmos and God. Moltmann's pneumatology expresses God as both transcendence and immanence; this made a platform for further conversation between Christianity and Confucianism.