General Revelation And Religious Dialogue: An Analysis Of Ai Hongde 's Unique Missionary Approach

As one of the most controversial missionary, Karl Ludvig Reichelt was studied by manyscholars for his special missionary approach，even a lot of cirticism. Among those who havecirticized Reichelt for his approach, many theologians who belongs to the NorwegianLutheran Pietism pointed out that Reichelt as a syncretism; some other Germany theologiansuch as Otto said that Reichelt was lack of the basic theologian nerves, which referred to thecontextual difference between the idea of logos and tao, hence hardly can these two ideas becompared. Even some theologians from Netherland like Karama misunderstood his point,taking Chirstianity to be the higher evolutionary stage of Mahayana Buddhism. Reichelt hadclairfied himself many times openly. This paper studied his theological idea under hisparticular missionary approach by clarifies his growth which is filled with an atmosphere ofLutheran Pietism and his training in Staverg as a missionary, his missionary activity in Chinaand how he developed his missionary approach to Buddhism in China. Further, this paperexplores the three most important theological ideas among his approach, which is LutheranPietism，logos theology, and fulfillment theology. Beyond that, this studies shows firstly howhis Lutheran Pietism has influenced him on his missionary approach to Mahayana Buddhismand why was Buddhism? Secondly, how his logos theology has impacted him on hisframework of missionary approach? Thirdly, how his fulfillment theology influenced his ideaon the relationship on Buddhism and Chirstianity as well as religious dialogue compairsm.Via the clairfying of the three theological idea, this paper analyzed certain theologicalcontroversies brought out by his particular missionary approach, such as general revelation,point of contact and the idea of prepare. After discussing these arguments, I will argue thatamong these controversies, the most significant one is general revelation. Hence this paperwill introduce another theologian whose name is Herman Barvink，I will show how his idea ofgeneral revelation can clairyf these theological controversies, and1will point out futrher thathow his missionary approach can be of great help to the dialogue between Buddhism andChristianity, such as his focusing on the meditation tradition and sanctification will besignificant in making the dialogue possible.