Overview

A bold and rigorous reexamination of transcendence - uniting religion, theology, philosophy, and science - while bridging Confucian and Christian thought to explore the origins of the world and human destiny Debating Transcendence is a groundbreaking contribution to the ongoing dialogue between Confu­cian and Christian thought by addressing the transcendence debate - a key controversy that has shaped centuries of cross-cultural intellectual exchange. Song examines whether the Confucian concept of Tian (Heaven) or Taiji (Ultimate Limit) possesses a transcendent dimension comparable to Christian understandings of the Creator God. This study revisits the historical and philosophi­cal roots of the debate, tracing its evolution from early interactions between Confucianism and Christianity during the sixteenth century to present-day discussions. At the heart of this book is Song’s aim to construct a Confucian definition of theology and a Confucian approach to comparative theology. Grounded in a scientifically rigorous methodology that transcends the conceptual boundaries of philosophy, religion, and theology, this new approach balances rootedness and impartiality, minimizing biases and revealing shared ground. Covering essential thinkers from the West and the East - such as Plato, Augustine, Descartes, and Paul Tillich alongside Confucius, Laozi, Wang Bi, and Zhu Xi - Song explores the historical development of key concepts such as creatio ex nihilo (creation out of nothing) and sheng sheng (birth birth), challenging misconceptions and highlighting underexplored commonalities and differences. Drawing from his diverse scholarly background and extensive engagement with both traditions, Song distinguishes Confucian from Daoist metaphysics and demonstrates that Confucian metaphysics, centered around the concept of generatio ex nihilo, offers a compelling framework for understanding transcendence that not only resembles but, in certain aspects, surpasses major streams of its Christian counterpart. Readers seeking to understand the profound spiritual foundations underpinning interactions between China and the West will find Song’s work essential. Combining rigor, scope, and depth, Debating Transcendence paves the way for refreshed interactions between Confucian and Christian thought, offering insights vital to contemporary scholarship and interreligious exchange.

Full Product Details

Author:   Bin Song
Publisher:   Fordham University Press
Imprint:   Fordham University Press
Edition:   New edition
Volume:   12
Weight:   0.458kg
ISBN:  

9781531512095

ISBN 10:   1531512097
Pages:   336
Publication Date:   04 November 2025
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

Introduction 1 1 Comparative Theology as a Liberal Art 14 2 Comparative Theology as a Science 39 3 The Transcendence Debate in the History of Christian-Ru Interaction 53 4 Methodologies of Comparative Theology, Religion, and Philosophy for the Progress of the Transcendence Debate 75 5 Creatio ex Nihilo from Plato to Augustine 86 6 Creatio ex Nihilo in Continuum: Aquinas, Descartes, Schleiermacher, and Tillich 121 7 Sheng Sheng as Generatio ex Nihilo from Confucius to Wang Bi 145 8 Generatio ex Nihilo in Continuum: Zhou Dunyi, Zhu Xi, Cao Duan, and Luo Qinshun 199 Conclusion: Comparative Reflections on the Transcendence Debate 237 Acknowledgments 271 Glossary 275 Notes 277 Index 313

Reviews

""The theme of creation has been a point of contention between Ruist (Confucian) and Christian thought since Matteo Ricci entered the stage. Writing from the Ruist perspective, Bin Song offers a fresh and refreshing look at this long-standing problem, showing the depth and complexity of both traditions on the subject. This book is a must read for anyone interested in Confucian-Christian dialogue or comparative theological method more broadly."" - Joshua Brown, author of Aquinas and the Early Chinese Masters: Chinese Philosophy and Catholic Theology

The theme of creation has been a point of contention between Ruist (Confucian) and Christian thought since Matteo Ricci entered the stage. Writing from the Ruist perspective, Bin Song offers a fresh and refreshing look at this long-standing problem, showing the depth and complexity of both traditions on the subject. This book is a must read for anyone interested in Confucian-Christian dialogue or comparative theological method more broadly.---Joshua Brown, author of Aquinas and the Early Chinese Masters: Chinese Philosophy and Catholic Theology

Author Information

Bin Song is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Washington College, specializing in Confucianism, early modern philosophy, and comparative theology, with a focus on metaphysics, ethics, spirituality, and the intersections of Confucian and Christian thought. He is the author of Descartes’s Mechanical Philosophy (in Chinese), a study on metaphysical foundations of modern science, and has published translations of early modern European philosophy into Chinese and ancient Confucian meditation texts into English.

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