Reigious Toleration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reigious Toleration - turn up ExampleJonathan Spence presentation of Emperor Kangxis views on religion articulates in English the thought processes and rationale given by Kangxi to justify his policies. Emperor Kangxi is one of the great kings of the Qing dynasty that ruled China for several centuries. under(a) Emperor Kangxis rule, the kingdom reached unprecedented expansion of territory and power. It is assumed that the audience for this retrospective welt is all the subjects of his empire as well as foreign diplomats, merchants and missionaries. Defined narrowly, Emperor Kangxis policies toward western sandwich religious missionaries argon generally intolerant. But his rationale for taking certain decisions in this regard are well thought out and well expressed. One of the worries expressed by the Emperor is how foreigners, especially from the West, who hear China for temporary reasons either commercial or cultural or religious are a drain on the spirit of authentic Chinese traditions. He feels that such visitors leave China use of wealth and culture. As he reasons it out to the Christian Missionary Charles-Thomas Maillard de Tournon Hereafter we will allow conformation in China to all those who come from the West and will non return there. fireside permission will not be granted to those who come one year expecting to go business firm the contiguous because such spate are like those who stand outside the main gate and plow what people are doing inside the house. Besides these meddlers there are also those out for profit, greedy traders, who should not be allowed to live here. ... As he reasons it out to the Christian Missionary Charles-Thomas Maillard de Tournon Hereafter we will permit residence in China to all those who come from the West and will not return there. Residence permission will not be granted to those who come one year expecting to go home the next because such people are like those who stand outside the main gate and discus s what people are doing inside the house. Besides these meddlers there are also those out for profit, greedy traders, who should not be allowed to live here (Kangxi 639). The emperors strict stance toward de Tournon and his ilk is quite trustworthy when one considers the fact that the latter actually tried to prohibit converted Chinese Christians from practicing local Chinese customs or assimilate Chinese language phrases in Biblical renditions. Seen in this context, Emperor Kangxis stance is a protest against religious intolerance that his people have suffered under the decrees of the papacy. So, while externally stringent and intolerant, Emperor Kangxis position is actually fair and balanced. Galileo Galileis makes an impassioned defence of scientific advancement in his letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany. Written in 1615, this letter captures the essence of the perennial passage of arms between religious fundamentalism and scientific discovery upsetting the dogma. It is important to remember that Galileo was a religious man. He never saw his controversial scientific discoveries as subverting or disproving the Christian faith. Instead, he saw as part of the conscientious Christian mission to promote scientific enquiry alongside following the Christian doctrine. He quotes the words of St. Augustines views on truth and epistemology to back up his own position. Moreover,