RG ST 71 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Pax Mongolica, Major Force, Ancient Greek Philosophy
Christianity in Asia
Our view is tainted by Protestantism
➔More correct: Christianities
➔Nestorian Christianity: doctrine that emphasizes a distinction between the human and
divine natures of Jesus
◆Syrian and Persian traditions
◆Theological view of dual nature of Jesus
● Was Jesus a divine being or fully human?
○ Answer: one sacred and one normal being occupying the same
body
◆Christian traditions not influenced by “Western” Greek philosophy
◆Nestorian period 177 AD
● Continuing traditions in Middle East and Central Asia
○ Iraq, Syria, Armenia
○ Korea, Japan, Philippines, Thailand
● Spread of Islam
○ Uneasy coexistence with Asian/Nestorian Christianity (622-
present)
Pax Mongolica
➔Roman Catholic missionaries to Mongols 1245
➔Roman Catholic missionaries to China 1294
➔Death of Kublai Khan 1294 → end of Christianity’s viability in China/East Asia
Disappearance
➔Isolation of communities in a vast geography
◆Hard to communicate and many obstacles
➔Persecutions
➔Competition with other religious traditions
➔Never a critical mass of Christians in one nation to change the course of history and
establish Christianity as a major force in Asia
Long history of equating biblical religion/christianity with caucasian people
Ethnic: originally meant not christian or jewish
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Nestorian christianity: doctrine that emphasizes a distinction between the human and divine natures of jesus. Theological view of dual nature of jesus. Answer: one sacred and one normal being occupying the same body. Christian traditions not influenced by western greek philosophy. Continuing traditions in middle east and central asia. Uneasy coexistence with asian/nestorian christianity (622- present) Death of kublai khan 1294 end of christianity"s viability in china/east asia. Isolation of communities in a vast geography. Never a critical mass of christians in one nation to change the course of history and establish christianity as a major force in asia. Long history of equating biblical religion/christianity with caucasian people.
