Exploring The Possibility And Significance Of The Dialogue Between Marxism And Christianity

Christianity has changed its attitude toward Marxism since the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council in the1960s, which opened a dialogue prelude between the Catholic and Marxist. Over the past50years although it hasn’t get direct great progress, the change has had a profound influence on how the Catholic Church cope with the Marxism and the modernization. There are more and more religious believers in socialism Chinese these years. Marxist scholars have gradually adjusted their religious perspectives. And the Marxism religion view tends to be more moderate. The relationship between Marxism and Christianity seems particularly complex because of the characteristics of their historical background and cultural background. The changes of both Marxism and Christianity prepare possibility space for the dialogue possibility between Marxism and Christianity.Part Ⅰ:It discusses the basis of the selection and the domestic and international research situation. The scope of the research topic is defined. A clear standpoint to explore dialogue possibility and significance between Marxism and Christianity from the Marxist is determined.Part Ⅱ:It introduces Chinese and world background of the dialogue possibility between Marxism and Christianity. The Enlightenment laying the foundation of the rationalism tradition, the technological development enhancing the human cognitive abilities, the Reformation, and the French Revolution shock the sanctity of the Christian in Western world. Christianity presents a characteristic, namely the digesting of Western Christian ideology functions with the social function of that being enhanced. This change has weakened the conflict in the ideological and social organization entity between Marxism and Christianity which offers the possibility of dialogue between the two sides. In globalization world, different civilizations meeting, the mutual understanding between China and the Western with Christianity cultural background make it indeed necessary to dialogue. The increasing number of Chinese Christians, the publicity strategy of dominant ideology and the auxiliary means of alleviating the moral crisis, need Christianity take part in the modernization, for which the traditional policy of religious freedom provide possibility.Part Ⅲ:It describes the historical and realistic of divergence of discussing the dialogue. The atheistic and revolutionary feature of Marxist theory, the Soviet Union’s anti-religious policies, China’s religious policy during the Cultural Revolution, make the Christians feel doubt and fear to Marxism. Christian’s defamation to Marxist theory, the collusion between religious extremists and ethnic separatist in the Soviet Union collusion, the part of the Chinese Christianity’s link with imperialism, and the Vatican keeping diplomacy with Taiwan, make Marxist have to be vigilant. On this basis, it advocates the dialogue principles, that the two sides should adhere to the Marxist view of religion, respect for the traditional relationship between church and state sovereignty, tolerant different beliefs.Part Ⅳ:It discusses the possibility of dialogue from theoretical abstraction level through introducing the theory turn of the Marxism and Christianity. Since the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Christianity has undergone profound positive change to adapt to modern society. Christianity reformed the thinking way of research, the doctrinal content, the principle of religious freedom, the hierarchy of Church. Changes of the Christianity’s theory prepare Christianity theoretical possibility for Dialogue. Since the reform and opening up, marxism religion view has reinterpreted the essence of religion, no longer confined to opium theory; Marxist re-generalize the religious identity; Marxists raise the religious relations theory, and range it as one of the five socialism relations one, emphasize the promotion of religious harmony relations; Marxists innovate the theory of the adaptability of religions to the socialist society. Changes of the Marxism’s religion theory prepare Marxism theoretical possibility for Dialogue.Part Ⅴ:It discusses the possibility of dialogue from specific level from their classical theory and ethics, and practical experience. In Christianity classical theory there are some factors similar to the communism. The word of the Christianity critique of capitalism is similar as that of Marxist. There is dialogue space about these traditional argument, idealism and materialism, theism and atheism, class struggle. There are similarities between Christianity and Marxism on ethics and the relationship between man and nature. There are interaction and exchange cases in history and contemporary practice.Part Ⅵ:It discussed the significance of their dialogue from the theory and reality. The dialogue is good for the harmonious coexistence of religious believers and non-believers, the Marxist and Christian deeply understanding their faith, human society’s common progress, the capitalism and socialism seeking common ground while putting aside differences, cultural exchange between Chinese and the world, and building Chinese culture.