Renaissance or Subordination: A Comparative Study of the Approaches to Christian Social Thought of Ronald H. Preston and Michael Novak

神學的復興或臣服──普林斯頓與諾懷克基督教社會思想之比較

It would seem that theology cannot continue to maintain its transcendent position as the centre of traditional values in today's world. So, what is the role of theology in Contemporary society? This essay explores this question through the Christian social thoughts of Ronald H. Preston and Michael Novak. First, it uses social Christianity and Christian conservatism, through Preston and Novak respectively, to explore the relationship between Christian social ethics and capitalism. Then, while contrasting and comparing these two perspectives. radical orthodoxy will be introduced as a third party to further review their works. Finally, the experience of Presbyterianism in Taiwan, that country's biggest church, will be used to examine, and reflect on. these theological theories.

今天，基督教神學似乎已不能再以傳統的價值與習慣維持它超驗的中心。那麼，我們不禁要問：在當代的社會裡，神學扮演什麼樣的角色？二十世紀後半期，社會基督主義與基督教保守主義在英美社會獲得熱烈回響，然而近年來基進正統神學卻譏其將基督教神學臣服於資本主義之下。究竟這些基督教的社會思潮是一種復興還是一種臣服呢？本文欲透過當代英國神學家普林斯頓與美國神學家諾懷克的觀點來探討這個問題。首先筆者將分別以普林斯頓的社會基督主義與諾懷克的基督教保守主義的途徑來闡述基督教社會倫理與資本主義的關係。其間將引入基進正統神學作為第三個角度來評價這兩種路徑。最後，台灣基督長老教會的發展經驗則作為這些神學理論的檢驗與反省。