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Sunday, July 15, 2012

Into the Arena.

I'm flying to London tomorrow for my Viva, held Thursday at Oxford Centre for Missions Studies. This is the "oral exam" part of my doctoral work. I ignored advice to do something "managable" in my thesis, threw caution to the wind, and attempted to construct a "map" of world religions from an orthodox, biblical perspective, internally consistent and of sweeping explanatory power. The dissertation focuses on the work of one of the leaders of the Democracy Movement back in 1989, a young philosopher named Yuan Zhiming, who later became a Christian and tried to interpret Chinese tradition from the perspective of the Gospel -- much as some early Christians did with schools of Greco-Roman thought. Along the way, I carefully examine two great sermons (by Jesus, on the Mount, and by Paul, on Mars Hill) to develop a model of religions called Fulfillment Theology.  (Though I'm only allowed to use one "l" in the first word, this being a British thesis).  Then I retell the story of Chinese Christianity from this (to me very exciting) perspective, touching on such great figures as Jing Jing, the Nestorian priest, Mateo Ricci and lesser-known colleagues, and some of the most thoughtful Christians in China, Western and Chinese, during the 19th and 20th Century.  Since people who think this way have usually focused on the theism of the ancient Chinese classics, and what classical sages like Confucius and Lao Zi said about a Savior, this also allowed me to study the Chinese classics.  Getting back to Chinese culture, and its relationship to Christianity, felt like being a kid in a candy store. 

The External Examiner is an eminent Catholic theologian of religions, who is also one of my dialogue partners in the thesis.  It should be an exciting day. 

This is the most ambitious work I have attempted, to date: I feel (to speak subjectively, not to compare myself) much as Kepler must have felt, when he discovered how planets orbit the sun.  Great pieces of an enormous puzzle seem to have come together over the past five (really thirty) years.  I also feel a little like Kepler's mother must have, just before she was hauled into court on a charge of witchcraft.  

11 comments:

Crude said...

Good luck, David! I hop eto hear what comes out of this. Your thoughts on chinese religion and its relation to Christianity was what drew me to this site to begin with.

Rudy said...

Dave, I didn't know you had so much on your plate. Never mind my ranting, good luck with your Viva. I'm looking forward to reading your book.

@Crude, I see you responded to my comment but I'll have to get back to it tomorrow, I'm sorry.

Crude said...

Rudy,

There's never a rush with these things, at all. Respond, or don't, when you care to. Combox stuff is quite low priority.

David B Marshall said...

Thanks, Crude.

I'd call what I did "ranting," Rudy. Your comments were relatively succint. :- )

Bjørn Are said...

Great - and good luck and congrats!

Which year is the book out?

David B Marshall said...

Bjorn: Thanks much!

Which book? Faith Seeking Understanding should be out in a month and a half. If you're referring to the published version of the dissertation, I'm hoping (and mostly expecting, a request has come in) to see that some time in 2013.

Rudy said...

"True Son of Heaven".

Unknown said...

David,

We've had our disagreements, but I too wish you luck.


Steve

Bjørn Are said...

David, it was the 2013 I was curious about, the other one is preordered long ago:-)

David B Marshall said...

Thanks, Steve. It went well: both internal and external examiners (very sharp men, both) liked the thesis, the suggestions they made were relatively minor, and will improve the final product. It appears, however, that that the wheels of academic bureacracy will now grind more slowly than I imagined, to complete the process.

Unknown said...

Well done! It is a long way to go but one should think well worth it. Our weather hasn't been too friendly, however. Kindest regards...


Steve