| The purpose of this dissertation is to assess the meanings of filial piety with a view to drawing implications for pastoral care in the Chinese church in Taiwan. The method this dissertation employs is a combination of a literature search and case studies.; First, the origin and the Confucian understanding of filial piety and a tragic ancient ballad of filial obedience, "Southeast the Peacock Flies," are discussed.; Next, attention is drawn to a biblical perspective of filial piety, which includes the Old Testament, Jewish, and the New Testament understandings. Subsequently, a brief comparison is made between a Chinese perspective and a biblical perspective of filial piety.; Third, the status of filial piety and social changes in the Republic of China are focused upon. The impact of the May Fourth Movement upon filial piety is assessed, and the role of filial piety in the modernized Taiwan updated.; Fourth, two contemporary filial cases in Taiwan are discussed. The first case is related to the conflict between the role of a filial son and that of a caring husband. The second has to do with the tension between discipleship and filial piety.; From the preceding presentation, implications are drawn for pastoral care in the Chinese church in Taiwan: (1) Filial piety should be a focus for Chinese pastoral care. (2) A pastoral perspective of filial piety must be formulated in order to guide the practice of pastoral care in the Chinese church. Such a perspective should contain: (a) a proper distinction and relation between worshipping God and honoring parents; (b) a view of filial piety as the principle of spontaneity, the principle of solidarity, the principle of spontaneity, the principle of solidarity, the principle of mutuality, and the principle of continuity; and (c) the integration of the last name and the first name. (3) A pastoral methodology which is based upon the pastoral perspective of filial piety should be developed. This should include: (a) a family orientation in Chinese pastoral care; (b) a proper understanding and judicious use of authority in the Chinese context; (c) the ministry of sustaining, guiding, and reconciling; and (d) the emphasis of family education in the parish. (4) Filial piety needs to be made a subject of moral inquiry in the Chinese church in order that Chinese pastoral care may be both Chinese and pastoral. (5) Chinese pastoral care should make the facilitation of Chinese Christians toward filial maturity one of the chief goals of its ministry. |
