丹尼斯·奥尔森 美国普林斯顿神学院
Olson, Dennis, Princeton Theological Seminary
原文Original
The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) in the Shadow of the Great Wall of China: Resources in Christianity and the Bible for Promoting Cultural Dialogue between China and the West
The essay will begin by examining some parallels between the ancient story of the building of the Tower of Babel in the book of Genesis, chapter 11, in the Christian Bible (Old Testament) and the building of the Great Wall of China. These two building projects provide a helpful metaphor for thinking about cultural engagement between China and the West.
The twentieth century has witnessed a dramatic shift in the center of gravity in Christianity. Christianity has declined in influence in Europe and in some parts of the United States. However, Christianity has grown dramatically in strength and numbers in many parts of the Southern Hemisphere (Latin America and Africa) and in Asia, including China. The capacity for translation into another culture has always been an important element in Christian history. When the Christian religion encounters new cultures, it is often transformed in its beliefs and practices as it takes up and borrows from another culture's ancient wisdom, practices and values. Christianity has a long and complex history within China, reaching back to the seventh century. We who are Christians in the West should seek to benefit from the gifts of wisdom from China's great traditions as mediated through the cultural bridge of a renewed Christian presence in China.
This essay will argue that there are resources in the Christian Bible for promoting mutual and respectful dialogue and building bridges of blessing and good will among diverse cultures. The Bible is realistic about the challenges of such inter-cultural dialogue (the tower of Babel). However, the Bible also offers glimpses of dialogue, reconciliation and the offering and receiving of gifts across cultural boundaries.
译文Translation
中国长城阴影下的巴别塔（创世纪第11章）：基督教及圣经中有助于中西文化对话的资源
本文始于对基督教《圣经·创世纪》第11章有关修筑巴别塔的古老传说与中国修筑长城之间的某种并行关系之考察。这两项修筑计划的寓意，为我们思考中西文化交流问题提供了有益的启示。
20世纪见证了令人惊异的基督教重心大移转。在欧洲和美国部分地区，基督教的影响力已经下降。不过，在南半球的拉丁美洲和非洲，以及包括中国在内的亚洲，基督教的影响力和信徒数量都有巨大增长。在基督教历史上，向异质文化转换的能力一直是其获取自身发展一个重要因素。每当遭遇新的文化，基督教在吸纳、借鉴该文化古老的智慧、实践及价值时，其信仰和实践常常会有所转化。基督教与中国之间有着悠久而复杂的历史，这一直可以追溯到7世纪。现在，基督教于中国复兴，我们生活在西方的基督徒理应通过这座文化桥梁，汲取中国伟大传统的智慧而从中获益。
本文认为，基督教圣经中存在一些资源可用来促进多元文化间相互尊重的对话、构筑传达祝愿和善意的桥梁。圣经并不回避不同文化之间对话所带来的挑战（巴别塔），但圣经也让我们看到了对话、和好以及跨越文化界限的相互馈赠与接受。