The dialogue between Herman Bavinck and Mou Zongsan on human nature and its quality

Ximian Xu*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

This article aims to make a comparison between Herman Bavinck, a leading neo-Calvinist theologian, and Mou Zongsan, arguably the most innovative New Confucian philosopher, on human nature and its quality, and to build a dialogue between them. Bavinck sets forth a theocentric explication on human nature, that is the imago Dei, which was created, is fallen and can only be restored in Jesus Christ who is the true imago Dei. In contrast, Mou anthropocentrically expounds human nature, which immanentizes the heavenly decree andisinnately good. Despite their fundamental differences, a dialogue can still be articulated by differing Bavinck's God from Kant's God, the latter of which is critiqued by Mou.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)298-324
Number of pages27
JournalJournal of Reformed Theology
Volume11
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2017

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Herman bavinck
  • human nature
  • imago Dei
  • inner sageliness
  • moral anthropology
  • Mou Zongsan
  • New Confucianism
  • outer kingliness

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