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T
he apostle Paul was a phenomenal communicator
for a number of reasons, including the fact that he
knew his audience. He knew what they ate for dinner,
what they talked about at social gatherings, and what they
believed as truth. Even better, he understood that all these
things influenced how they would receive the gospel. As
it was for Paul, it is to our benefit to be educated when we
share the good news of Jesus Christ with students influenced
by generations of Asian theology.
The intent of this article is to provide an overview of
some components of the three most influential Asian theologies. These components should make an impact on how you
present Christ to students. It is not an exhaustive list, but it
is the first step in exposing you to how particular ideas could
present hurdles when sharing the gospel with this cultural
group. My hope is that what you learn here will encourage
you to continue to investigate the history, belief system,
vocabulary, and symbology of the religion of your students
in order to best share the saving grace of Christ.
Hinduism
Hinduism is the oldest and in many ways the least
structured of the Asian theologies. In fact, the word Hinduism
should not be used to identify a unified religion but rather a
set of related general beliefs—that all people desire to gain a
closer connection with Brahman (ultimate reality) through
Atmen (the spiritual essence of humans). The vague parameters
of Hinduism are the first of the major hurdles to introducing
Christianity to a Hindu. When one believes that 330 million
visible gods can all point to Brahman, Jesus becomes no
different from Shiva, a popular Hindu figure, or Buddha.
But to be Christian under the umbrella of Hinduism is
not Christianity. Therefore, it is essential when evangelizing
adherents of Hinduism that you help them understand Jesus
apart from idols, God apart from Brahman, and the human
soul apart from Atmen. These distinctions are not easy for
the cultural Hindu who can easily profess and even practice
Christianity as a means to Brahman.
The Hindu belief in Karma and its influence on the next
life is another major hurdle for acceptance of the Christian
message. Karma puts everyone in a continual cycle of rebirth,
or reincarnation, which one can escape only by perfection,
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a status that is rare and achievable only after millions of
years. Additionally, the Karma from the previous life of a
person determines the social and economic position of that
person. These concepts can constrict basic Christian beliefs.
Examples that show hindrances include the following.
Time and urgency. If this life is one of hundreds, even
thousands, there is no urgency to make a decision, let alone
a life change.
Tendency toward the extremes. Good Karma results in a
better placement in the next life cycle. Since intense focus
on a single physical, educational, or spiritual achievement
could invoke good Karma, this focus is acceptable even when
it requires a person to ignore other aspects of life such as
family, job, and even eating.
Treatment of lower classes. Since one’s life status is a direct
result of past Karma, one is to view life status as a punishment
or a reward. Therefore, Hindus do not honor empathy and
charity.
Buddhism
Although more definable, Buddhism has its roots in
Hinduism and therefore shares some of its basic tenets such
as Karma, reincarnation, and a belief in joining one’s essence
with something greater. But in this case the greater thing is
Nirvana, literally translated as “extinction.” Buddhists do
not believe in a god being, but instead strive to extinguish
their desires and expunge themselves into the essence of all
things. The original Buddha summarized Buddhism well
in what is known as the Four Noble Truths: (1) to live is to
suffer; (2) suffering comes from desire; (3) to end suffering,
end desire; and (4) release from suffering is possible and can
be attained by following the Noble Eightfold Path.
By eliminating desire, one is enlightened, and thus one
can become a Buddha himself. The key concept is “desire,”
and it is therefore essential for you as a Christian teacher not
only to understand how your students define “desire” but also
to use that concept appropriately when presenting the gospel.
Within Mahayana Buddhism, which is a major branch of
the religion, a person who reaches enlightenment but denies
himself or herself Nirvana to help others reach enlightenment receives the title bodhisattva. Buddhists consider a
bodhisattva compassionate and wise. What is essential for
2009/2010 | CSE Volume 13 Number 2 | Asian Theology 101 for Christian Teachers
you to understand is that by definition a teacher is a bodhisattva. Please reread this section again to understand the
enormity of this last statement.
The emphasis on education among Asians is in many ways
a desire to learn from a bodhisattva. For you as a Christian
teacher this fact is seemingly ideal. However, it also means that
Buddhist students observe you closely and that you must fulfill
the expectations of the title in order to maintain your influence.
If the title bodhisattva is a help when evangelizing the
Buddhist, the hurdle that takes many Christians by surprise
is the history of Buddhism, specifically of the original Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama. Many make the mistake of emphasizing the uniqueness of Jesus without knowing the multiple
parallels between the history of Jesus of Nazareth and the
legends about Siddhārtha. Knowing these legends could
provide you opportunity to tell how Jesus did the same and
more, much as Paul did with the Athenians in Acts 17:16–31.
Jesus of Nazareth
Siddhārtha Gautama
Pregnancy
virgin birth by Holy
Spirit
mother impregnated via
a dream in which an
elephant entered her side
Birth
travel/awe inspiring
travel/miraculous
Childhood
noncanonical Gospels
attest to childhood
miracles
born able to walk
Knowledge
40 days in the wilderness
days outside the palace
Resisted
Temptation
from Satan
from Mara
Writings
none
none
Followers
many
many
that person will be blessed in his or her earthly life. Because
a Confucianist believes the opposite is also true, many
Asians influenced by this belief, even those who profess
Christianity, participate in ancestor worship. Although you
do not want to promote these ideas, it would be advantageous to show appropriate respect for your own ancestors.
Education. Kong Qui strongly emphasized education as
a means of self-improvement. Therefore, the philosophy
strongly encourages continued learning but focuses on
understanding the here and now. The mysteries of life are
not worth attention, so a focus on anything beyond the
physical realm is seemingly a waste of time. Unfortunately,
this emphasis on the tangible is a hurdle when presenting
such concepts as the kingdom of God.
Relationships. The Confucian order of respect revolves
around what is known as the Five Great relationships:
father-son, elder brother-younger brother, husband-wife,
elder-younger (or teacher-student), and ruler-subject (rarely
but sometimes listed first). Although authority is never to be
questioned within Confucianism unless it has abandoned
the good of the whole, the teacher relationship is fourth in
line. Therefore, it is even more important than in the West
that teachers develop relationships with parents, especially
with fathers, and even older brothers.
Continue Your Study
Confucianism
Kong Qui, commonly known as Confucius, set out to
develop a system of orderly living based on prescribed values
and relationships that would dictate both family and government structure. Because Confucianism does not contain some
of the typical religious concepts such as a god and a creation
account, many classify it as a general life philosophy that
does not conflict with practiced religion. However, experience
within a Confucian society will quickly show otherwise, and
thus this article includes this far-reaching philosophy.
Because Confucianism is seemingly unthreatening to
Christian beliefs, adherents of it are in many ways the most
difficult of the Asian religions to evangelize. Below is a list
of beliefs or understandings you should be aware of when
presenting the gospel in the context of Confucianism.
Ancestors. Confucianism recognizes the existence of the
soul, but a Confucianist believes that the soul is the combination of one’s ancestors. Therefore, ancestor worship is a
major part of the faith. If a person appeases the ancestors,
• Watch documentaries and movies such as Little Buddha.
• Read books, articles, and Internet information. Children’s
books often provide the simplest and best summaries.
• Ask sincere questions of people who practice the religion—
not with the agenda of evangelism but with a desire to learn.
• Attend an event that gives you insight. You do not need to
participate; go as an observer.
References/Suggested Reading
Martin, Walter. 2003. The kingdom of the cults. Rev. and upd. ed.
Gen. ed. Ravi Zacharias. Bloomington, MN: Bethany House
Publishers.
Molloy, Michael. 2005. Experiencing the world’s religions. 3rd ed.
Columbus, OH: McGraw-Hill.
Novak, Philip. 1994. The world’s wisdom: Sacred texts of the world’s
religions. New York: HarperCollins.
Rachel Pedraza Dewey, MAT, has served with Young Life in
East Africa and has taught college classes on comparative
theology as well as church sessions on Christian doctrine,
cult theologies, and Eastern religions. Mrs. Dewey teaches an
International Baccalaureate ethics class at Taejon Christian
International School in South Korea.
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