A Christian ethic in the modern and postmodern world

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:In seeking to evaluate a Christian ethic in the modern and postmodern world, we shouldfirst search for the ethical principles of modernism and of postmodernism. Thereafter, weshould attempt to find a common ethical principle in both modernism and postmodernisrn.In this way we can establish whether or not modern and postmodern ethics approximate toChristian ethics.Modern ethics originated from and were established on the concept of 'the self or selfcentrismas defined in this thesis. More exactly, modern ethics were grounded on the basisof the 'reason' of the autonomous self. In this way modern ethics can be characterized byuniversal laws or universal norms. They served oppressive political norms. In moderntimes the rational ethics, therefore, correlated with the langauge of totalization andcolonization. This modern ethical paradigm was criticized by postmodernists.Postmodernists deconstructed modernist universal norms which were constituted on theconcept of 'the self. They discovered 'the other'. Thus the postmodern ethics weredeveloped on the concept of 'the other'. Postmodern ethics are expressed in uncertaintyand can be characterized as 'rninimalistic morality'. Even though modern ethics andpostmodern ethics were established on different concepts, they have a common principle.We recognized that the this-worldly self-life centrism is a common principle of modernethics and postmodern ethics. We established this in chapter 2.In Chapter 3 we studied the Christian ethics in the Bible. Christians must follow Christ.Christians must become the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit transforms us into the imageof Christ. Therefore, Christ is the origin and model of Christian ethics. But we alsoinvestigated the reason why so many believers fail to live Christ-like life. We discoveredthat the this-worldly life centrism always hinders believers from becoming Christ-likepeople. We suggested that life-giving love is the core ethical principle in the Bible. In Chapter 4 we applied Biblical Christian ethics to the modern and postmodern world.We found that Christian ethics could not match up with modern and postmodern ethicalprinciples in certain respects. Christian ethics are different from modern and postmodernethics. From this application we proposed that Christian ethics are not expressed in eithermodern rationalism or postmodern deconstruction. We disclosed the reason why modernrational ethics and ethics of deconstruction cannot comprehend Christ-like ethics.Modern and postmodern ethics were not established on the model of Christ. Modern andpostmodern ethics did not emphasize the life-giving love which Jesus portrayed. In thisthesis, therefore, the conclusion is that Christian ethics must be Christ-centric ethics. TheChrist-centric ethic that can counter postmodern life comes true in life-giving love.Countering modern rational ethics which are based on the concept of 'the self' or selfcentrismwe, Christians, must emphasize suffering and self-giving by loving 'the other', forexample: women, the isolated, and so on. Countering postmodern ethics of deconstructionbased on the concept of 'the other', 'the other' must strive to become a Christ-like personrather than pursue his/her own perfect self-realization and liberation.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University