0-Introduction-3(新真理的使命-Part 3)

Introduction-The mission of new truch(Part 3)

仔細查看基督教的歷史.
Examine the history of Christianity.
標榜著(宣稱) 拯救全人類，在二千年的歷史洪流中成長，
Professing the salvation of humankind, Christianity has expanded through a tumultuous history of two thousand years,
如今已擴充其影響力到全世界。
extending its influence throughout the world in the present era.
在羅馬帝國殘忍無道的迫害下，反而更強力地燃燒起生命的光芒，
Yet what has become of the Christian spirit that once cast flames of life so brilliant that, despite the most brutal persecution by the Roman empire,
使羅馬人伏服於死在十字架的耶穌面前，而此基督精神後來變成如何？
Roman citizens were brought to their knees before the crucified Jesus?
中世紀封建世界已將基督教活活地埋葬了。
Medieval feudal society buried Christianity alive.
從這墳墓中，雖舉起了高呼新生命的宗教改革之烽火，然而，這光芒也無法阻擋洶湧的黑暗波濤。
Even though the Reformation raised high the torch of new life, its flame could not turn back the sweeping tide of darkness.

當基督的愛消逝, 資本主義財欲的暴風橫掃全歐洲的基督教社會，
When ecclesiastic love waned, when waves of capitalistic greed surged across Christian Europe,
當飢餓的群眾從貧民中吶喊,
when starving masses cried out bitterly in the slums,
對他們呼救聲的承諾，並非從天，而是從地響起來，那就是共產主義。
the promise of their salvation came not from heaven but from the earth. Its name was communism.
高呼著神的而愛出發的基督教，僅留下囗號而化作初期教會殘骸.
Christianity, though it professed the love of God, had degenerated into a dead body of clergy trailing empty slogans.
理所當然, 有許多人如此高舉了叛旗,
It was then only natural that a banner of rebellion would be raised,
而主張在此無慈悲的世界內，不可能有神存在，
arguing that a merciless God who would allow such suffering could not exist.
藉此出現的就是唯物思想。基督教社會成為唯物思想的溫床。
Hence, modern materialism was born. Western society became a hotbed of materialism;
這溫床是共產主義得以枝繁葉茂成長茁壯的肥美的土壤.
it was the fertile soil in which communism flourished.


基督教卻沒有足以凌駕他們的實踐力，也無法提示真理來克服他們的理論，
Christianity lost the ability to equal the successes of either communism or materialism and failed to present the truth that could conquer their theories.
眼看著共產主義從自己的懷裡發芽、成長，擴張到世界性版圖卻束手無策。這真是令人萬分遺憾的事。
Christians watched helplessly as these ideologies budded and thrived in their midst and expanded their influence all over the world. What a pity this is!
不僅如此，相信全人類是出於一位父母的後裔，並當作教理加以傳揚的基督教國家，其國民卻因膚色的差異，弟兄無法同座一席，
What is more, although Christian doctrine teaches that all humanity descended from the same parents, many citizens of Christian nations who profess this doctrine will not even sit together with their brothers and sisters of different skin colors.
這種現實情況，正是將喪失基督聖言的實踐力，而變成灰色墓地且現今已形式化之基督教實際狀況，如實描寫出來的一個代表例。
This illustrates the actual situation of today's Christianity, which has lost much of the power to put the words of Jesus into practice. It has become a house of lifeless rituals, a whitewashed tomb.


不過，這種社會的悲劇，也許因為人的努力，尚有終止的可能性。
There may come a day when human efforts bring an end to such social evils,
但是，有一種社會惡，卻無法以人的努力解決─那正是淫亂。
but there is one social vice that human efforts alone can never eradicate. That is sexual immorality.
基督教的教理，將姦淫視為罪中最重之罪，
Christian doctrine regards this as a cardinal sin.
可是現今的基督教社會，卻無法阻止現代人盲目地湧向淪落之路，這是多麼令人悲痛的事實。
What a tragedy that today's Christian society cannot block this path of ruin down which so many people are rushing blindly!
今日的基督教對於在此世代激流中，混亂、分裂而被捲入悖倫漩渦中的無數生命竟束手無策，
Christianity today has fallen victim to confusion and division, and it can only watch helplessly while countless lives are sucked into the maelstrom of immorality.
這就是以往基督教在現代人類的救贖攝理上，站在極為無能之立場的真實證明。
This is evidence that conventional Christianity stands powerless to carry on God's providence to save humanity in this present age.


那麼，探求內的真理之宗教人，無法完成神給他們的使命的原因是什麼？
What is the reason that religious people, though earnestly searching for internal truth, have been unable to accomplish their God-given mission?
本質世界與現象世界的關係，正如同心與體的關係，
The relationship between the world of essence and the world of phenomena can be compared to that between mind and body.
它是原因的與結果的關係，內的與外的關係，以及主體的與對象的關係。
It is a relationship of cause and result, internal and external, subject partner and object partner.3(cf. Creation 1.1)
就像心與體完全合一，方能形成完全的人格一樣，
Just as people attain perfection of character only when the mind and body are fully united,
同理，當本質與現象等兩面世界完全合致時，方能實現理想世界。
the two worlds of essence and phenomena must join in perfect harmony before the ideal world can be realized.
如同心與體的關係，
As with the relationship between mind and body,
離開本質世界就沒有現象世界；
so too the world of phenomena cannot exist apart from the world of essence,
離開現象世界也沒有本質世界，
and the world of essence cannot exist apart from the world of phenomena.
據此，不會有離開此生的來世，
Accordingly, life after death is inseparably linked to life in this world.
所以，沒有真正的肉身幸福，心靈的喜悅是不會完全的。
Spiritual joy is incomplete without genuine physical happiness.
不過，至今的宗教，為要找尋永恆的來世，拼命否定現實；
Religions have made strenuous efforts to deny life in this world in their quest for the life eternal.
為求心靈的喜悅，蔑視肉身的幸福。
They have despised the pleasures of the body for the sake of spiritual bliss.
然而，無論如何否定也無法否定的現實，
Yet however hard they may try,
人們無法切斷與現實世界關牽連, 也無法擺脫就像影子般纏繞著的肉身幸福的欲望，
people cannot cut themselves off from the reality of this world or annihilate the desire for physical pleasures,
which follows them like a shadow and cannot be shaken off.
現實世界和他們自身的欲望執拗地把修道者拖到懊惱的深谷中。
This world and its desires tenaciously grab hold of religious people, driving them into the depths of agony.
這就是折磨著宗教人修道生活的矛盾性。
Such is the contradiction which plagues their devotional lives.
包藏著如此矛盾性的修道生活，只能陷入破滅，
Even many enlightened spiritual leaders, still torn by this contradiction, have met a sad end.
這就是現代宗教無能化的主要原因。
Herein is a principal cause for the inactivity and weakness of today's religions:
他們無法不能解開這種自我矛盾
they have not overcome this self-contradiction.


此外，使宗教走到如此命運的路，還有另一個重要原因。
Another factor has fated religions to decline.
隨著科學發達，人的知性也被啟發到最高度，
In step with the progress of science, the human intellect has become highly sophisticated,
相對地，現代人對所有事物都要求具有科學的認識，
requiring a scientific approach to understanding reality.
但宗教的教理卻舊態依然，全面地缺少科學的解明。
The traditional doctrines of religions, on the other hand, are largely devoid of scientific explanations.
意即，如同前述，內的真理與外的真理還未達到一致點的解明，
That is to say, the current interpretations of internal truth and external truth do not agree.
宗教的終極目的，是先以心信，再通過實踐達成其目的。
The ultimate purpose of religion can be attained only when one first believes it in one's heart and then puts it into practice.
然而，信是不可能從無知而來。

However, without first understanding, beliefs do not take hold.
舉例來說, 我們研究聖經，是為了藉著明白真理而確立信仰，
For example, it is in order to understand the truth and thereby solidify our beliefs that we study holy scriptures.
同樣地, 為了使人們知道他是彌賽亞，
Likewise, it was to help the people understand that he was the Messiah,
由此而引導人們相信他, 所以耶穌才行各種奇蹟。
and thereby lead them to believe in him, that Jesus performed miracles.
了解就是知識的開端
Understanding is the starting point for knowledge.
無論如何, 今日人們不會接受邏輯和科學無法論證的內容
Today, however, people will not accept what is not demonstrable by the logic of science.
因此, 由於目前宗教無法甚至無法指引人們達到可以理解的水平
Accordingly, since religions are now unable to guide people even to the level of understanding,
更遑論去相信, 其結果即無法達成宗教的目的。
much less to belief, they are unable to fulfill their purpose.
即使是內的真理也須要論證的解明，
Even internal truth demands logical and convincing explanations.
以致通過悠久的歷史期間，
Indeed, throughout the long course of history,
宗教一直追求著他們的教導能得到科學性解明之時代的到來。
religions have been moving toward the point when their teachings could be elucidated scientifically.

如此，因宗教與科學各別分擔著打開人生兩面無知的使命而出發，
Religion and science, setting out with the missions of dispelling the two aspects of human ignorance,
因此，在其過程中，難免呈現出互相衝突難以妥協的樣相。
have seemed in the course of their development to take positions that were contradictory and irreconcilable.
然而，為了完全克服人類兩面的無知，
However, for humankind to completely overcome the two aspects of ignorance
並完全成就本心所要求的善目的，
and fully realize the goodness which the original mind desires,
歷史上即必須出現一個能把科學所探求的宗教與宗教所探求的科學，以統一之課題解決的新真理。
at some point in history there must emerge a new truth which can reconcile religion and science and resolve their problems in an integrated undertaking.

新真理必須出現的主張，對於宗教人們，特別是對基督教信徒們而言，或許是難以接受的。
It may be displeasing to religious believers, especially to Christians, to learn that a new expression of truth must appear.
因為他們相信自己所領受的聖經，其本身就是完全無缺的。
They believe that the scriptures they have are already perfect and flawless.
當然，真理本身是唯一的，永遠不變而絕對的。
Certainly, truth itself is unique, eternal, immutable and absolute.
但是，聖經並非真理本身，而是一本教示真理的課本，
Scriptures, however, are not the truth itself, but are textbooks teaching the truth.
是賜給隨時代潮流漸次提昇心靈與知能程度之各時代人們的，
They were given at various times in history as humankind developed both spiritually and intellectually.
因此，教示真理的範圍以及表現的程度與方法，即不得不隨時代而有所變化。
The depth and extent of teaching and the method of expressing the truth naturally varied according to each age.
所以，我們不應將此性質的課本當作不變且絕對的（參照前編第三章第五節）。
Consequently, we must never regard such textbooks as absolute in every detail.4(cf. Eschatology 5)
人們需要宗教是為了尋求終極的真理，明白與本心一致的真諦，
People need religion in order to seek the Ultimate Reality and realize goodness in accordance with the inclination of the original mind.
因此，所有宗教的目的，應該都是一樣的。
Thus, the purpose of every religion is identical.
不過，因民族或時代不同，各種宗教的使命分野各有差異，其經書也彼此相異，因此，必然會產生各式各樣的宗教。
However, religions have appeared in different forms according to their various missions, the cultures in which they took root, and their particular historical period. Their scriptures have taken different forms for similar reasons.
經書就如同發出真理光芒的燈火，照亮周圍的使命是相同的，
All scriptures have the same purpose: to illuminate their surroundings with the light of truth.
但若有更光明的燈光出現時，舊燈火的使命即告終了。
Yet when a brighter lamp is lit, the old lamp is outshone and its mission fades.
今日任何宗教，由於無法引導現代人走出死亡的幽谷，到達生命的光明處，
Because religions lack the power to guide modern people out of the dark valley of death into the full radiance of life,
因此，現在必須要有發出新光明的新真理出現。
there must emerge a new expression of truth that can radiate a new and brighter light.
在聖經中，也有數處記錄著，將會賜予新真理的聖言
Jesus indicated that God would someday reveal a new truth:
「這些事，我是用比喻對你們說的；時候將到，我不再用比喻對你們說，乃要將父明明地告訴你們。」
"I have said this to you in figures; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures but tell you plainly of the Father."5(John 16:25)CEV