2024年6月5日 《基督徒与国家》 保罗在写给罗马基督徒的信中，曾小心地教导他的读者基督徒们应该如何看待国家的权柄，他写道：“在上有权柄的，人人当顺服他，因为没有权柄不是出于神的。 凡掌权的都是神所命的。”（罗13:1）。 “所以” 使徒保罗补充说，“抗拒掌权的就是抗拒神的命；抗拒的必自取刑罚”（罗13:2）。 从上下文可以清楚地看出，这条命令是针对每一位基督徒的。 正如新约圣经学者克兰菲尔德（C.E.B. Cranfi eld）解释的那样：“在其上下文中，’每个人’是’每个（在罗马）的基督徒’──这里强调的是“每个人”。任何基督徒都不能假想自己可以免于这里所指的义务。”[1] 这段经文是新约中关于世俗统治权威性质的教导的经典之作，是基督教国家神学的基础。 根据保罗的说法，国家是由上帝设立的，具有特定的功能，即赏善罚恶（罗 13:3-4）。 这导致 16 世纪的教权改革家，如马丁路德和约翰加尔文，根据人的原罪堕落来发展他们对国家的理解。 改革家们认为，国家的存在标志着原罪这事实。 换句话说，正是因为人类是罪人——堕落和有罪的活物——社会需要以国家这种型式来维持某种文明和秩序的轮廓。 正是基于宗教改革家对国家的这套基本见解，神学家埃米尔•布伦纳 (Emil Brunner ..read more

Credo 6 May 2024 In an article entitled ‘Magical Moments’, Stephen Hunt, who teaches religion at Reading University, notes that the ‘health and wealth gospel’ is ‘one of the fastest growing religious movements on a global scale’. Hunt is right. In a 2006 poll conducted by Time magazine, 17 per cent of Christians in America […] The post Called to Health, Wealth and Success? appeared first on ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity ..read more

Feature 6 May 2024 The Lord called my mom home almost a year ago. She was then 83 years old. I have been her main caregiver in the last five years of her life. This article is one of my ways to remember her. This is also for those who may have experienced a similar […] The post Memory, Relationship, and Remembrance appeared first on ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity ..read more

Pulse 6 May 2024 On 2 April 2024, The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, led by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, issued a Declaration entitled Infinite Dignity. This document provides an exposition of the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church on human dignity, and discusses thirteen ways in which it can be violated […] The post Dignitas Infinita: Mixed Messages from the Vatican? appeared first on ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity ..read more

Credo 6 May 2024 As we observe Aldersgate Day this month to commemorate Wesley’s transformative experience of the grace of God in his life on 24 May 1738, let us turn our attention to one aspect of his theology of grace, namely, prevenient grace. This facet of the outworking of God’s grace is extremely important—we […] The post God’s preventing grace appeared first on ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity ..read more

Credo 15 April 2024 Imagine this conversation among a group of sincere Christian friends: “Hey, did you know some denominations say that Christians are to be perfect?” “Oh? You mean we are to be flawless and sinless? C’mon, is that even possible?” “Seriously, isn’t Singapore competitive enough as it is? Do we also need to […] The post The Doctrine of Christian Perfection appeared first on ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity ..read more

Pulse 15 April 2024 The spectacular success and relentless advance and deployment of AI in almost every sector of society have been greeted with enthusiasm by some and concern by others. There is a heightening of awareness among scholars and the general public alike of the possible negative ramifications this technology has on economics, politics […] The post AI and Democracy appeared first on ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity ..read more

Pulse 1 April 2024 One of the most engaging movies on Netflix that I’ve watched recently is Society of the Snow, a 2023 survival drama directed by J.A. Bayona. This film is based on the true story of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 which crash landed on October 13, 1972, in the Andes mountains on […] The post Christian Ethics and Cannibalism appeared first on ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity ..read more

Credo 1 April 2024 The phrase “silver tsunami” is often used to describe the extraordinary rise in the number of older people throughout the world today. It is employed by not only politicians and academics, but also the ageing service sector. The expression betrays society’s attitude towards its ageing members despite the rhetoric against ageism […] The post The storied self appeared first on ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity ..read more

Pulse 18 March 2024 In November 2021, SingHealth and SGInnovate inked a partnership which seeks to leverage Artificial Intelligence to accelerate the transfer of ideas from bench to bedside. According to Medicus, a magazine published by Duke-NUS: The three-year collaboration which will bring together the clinical and research expertise of healthcare professionals with the technological and […] The post AI and Healthcare appeared first on ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity ..read more