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

Reigious Toleration - Essay Example Jonathan Spence’ presentation of Emperor Kangxi’s 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 Emperor Kangxi’s rule, the kingdom reached unprecedented expansion of territory and power. It is assumed that the audience for this retrospective lecture is all the subjects of his empire as well as foreign diplomats, merchants and missionaries. Defined narrowly, Emperor Kangxi’s policies toward Western religious missionaries are 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 visit China for temporary reasons – either commercial or cultural or religious – are a drain on the spirit of authentic Chinese tra ditions. He feels that such visitors leave China exploited of wealth and culture. As he reasons it out to the Christian Missionary Charles-Thomas Maillard de Tournon: â€Å"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 discuss 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: â€Å"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 discuss 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 emperor’s strict stance toward de Tournon and his ilk is quite legitimate 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 Kangxi’s stance is a protest against religious intolerance that his people have suffered under the decrees of the papacy. So, while outwardly stringent and intolerant, Emperor Kangxi’s position is actually fair and balanced. Galileo Galilei’s 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 battle 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. Augustine’s views on truth and epistemology to back up his own position. Moreover,