论宗教传播的“权”与“场”

纵观基督教、佛教、道教三种宗教的传教历史,从权柄、权力与道场、市场各自在宗教传播中所起的作用可以看出,权柄、权力可以兴教,却不必然兴教,权柄、权力可以是一个兴教的方便之门,然而,无此方便,却不可以说教不可兴。历史上的许多宗教派别,是因为得了权力而兴了教,却因此而失了市场,最终衰落了;同样,有的宗派从来没有得到权力,却得了市场,最后兴盛了。道场、市场,乃是兴教的方向,也为宗教的土壤。如果说传道者的眼睛需要朝上看,就更需要朝下看,那才是人间正道。

Power and Field in the Spread of Buddhism

Taking a general survey of the missionary history of Christianity,Buddhism,and Daoism,from the role of sceptre,power,monastery,and market which play in the spread of religion respectively,we can see that sceptre and power may make a religion prosperous,but do not necessarily.Sceptre and power could be convenient tool to make a religion prosperous;however,without such convenience we cannot say that the religion may not become prosperous.Many religious sects in history led their religion to prosperity because...