Luther and Taoism: The early Lutheran interpretation of the Taoist conception of love in the Sino-Nordic religious encounter

Abstract

The issue of how Chinese Taoism was introduced into the Nordic context of Lutheran theology is not only a fascinating subject of history but also a profound religious theme revealing the underlying conflicts, convergence, and dialogue of core values between Eastern and Western faith traditions. This study presents a survey of the early Lutheran interpretation of the Taoist conception of love with particular focus on whether Taoist doctrines were misunderstood during the encounter. The first section addresses the main line of reception of Taoist classics in Scandinavia. The second section examines some critical evaluations of the Taoist value of love by early Nordic missionaries to China. The third section discusses Luther's theology of love by addressing the doctrine of the two kinds of love according to the Finnish Lutheran School. In relation to this Lutheran picture, the fourth section proceeds to the Taoist concept of love by inquiring into Taoism's ideal of divine spiritual life. Based on the systematic comparison of the sources of love in both Lutheran theology and Taoism, section five explores new approaches in the modern Lutheran–Taoist dialogue on the renewal of love. I argue that the Taoist conception of the metaphysical benevolence (love) in Tao as well as the real-ontic presence of Tao in one's soul (Te) is not very far from the Finnish interpretation of Luther's idea of “in ipsa fide Christus adest,” compared to which the Taoist worship of certain moral examples cannot be misunderstood as worship of false idols but rather provides a useful image of an ascending love for inspiring ordinary people toward an ideal spiritual life. Thereby, these ontological and epistemological interpretations open a new horizon for deepening the modern Lutheran–Taoist dialogue on the renewal of love toward divinization.