从古典走向中世纪的基督教

基督教的产生和发展是具有世界历史意义的现象.自文艺复兴至启蒙运动直到近现代的许多思想家与史学家大都认为,基督教对西方文明的影响基本上是消极而又黑暗的.如果将基督教放在西欧从古典时代走向封建时代这一历史大转变过程中,作客观冷静的历史主义分析,那么,关于基督教对西方文明的影响,就会是一种相反的结论,即基本上是积极而又光明的,其中至少有三点是可以肯定的一是在罗马帝国腐朽衰亡之际,基督教作为"救世福音"抚慰,安定了人们的灵魂与精神;二是基督教的修道士和神学家们以变态、扭曲的方式,保存并延续了希腊、罗马的古典文化;三是基督教的教会、教区和修道院等机构,成为日耳曼民族建立和扩大其政治统治、恢复生产并发展社会经济的组织借助.基督教在这三方面的地位和作用,在当时的历史条件下,几乎都具有一种唯一的和不可替代的性质.因此,基督教是西欧在古典时代末期和封建时代前期重塑文明的核心力量.

Christianity from Classicism to Middle Ages

The appearance and development of Christianity is a phenomenon of world historical significance. From the Renaissance to the Enlightenment Movement and even to the modern time, many thinkers and historians think Christianity's influence on the Western civilization has been basically negative and dark. But if Christianity is examined calmly and objectively at the great turning point of the Western Europe from classicism to the feudal time, christianity's influence on the Western civilization will be an opposite one--basically active and bright. At least three points can be certain.(1) When the Roman Empire waned and fell, Christianity, the "Savior's Gospel" comforted and soothed people's souls and spirit.(2) The Christian brothers and theologians preserved and continued the classic Greek and Roman culture in an abnormal and twisted way. (3) The Christian churches, dioceses and monasteries became assisting organizations for the Germanic nations to establish and expand their political rules, to restore production and develop their social economy. The above-mentioned positions and functions of Christianity became almost unique and irreplaceable under the historical conditions of that time. Therefore, Christianity was the strength in the core at the end of Western European classicism and early feudal period to rebuild its civilization.