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Handout #198 |
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China seen from Europe |
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Many European thinkers became interested in what the
missionaries said about China, often drawing very different conclusions. The
philosopher Leibniz showed great enthusiasm for this encounter between China
and Europe. He thought that it should bring together the different Christian
confessions.
I think that a singular concern of destiny has it were joined together the most civilized and the most ordered extremities of our continent, Europe and China ... Perhaps these two most cultivated nations, by stretching out their arms to one another, will gradually perfect all that is to be found. I fear that soon, under all the similarities, we shall be inferior to the Chinese; it will be almost necessary to receive missionaries from them in order to learn from the use and practice of natural theology, just as we send them missionaries to teach them revealed theology... The plan to bring the light of Jesus Christ to distant countries is so fine that I do not see what differentiates us ... I think that mission is the greatest concern of our times, as much for the glory of God as for the general good of humankind. Leibniz, texts from 1697. |
