this issue
previous article in this issuenext article in this issue

Document Details :

Title: Buddhist-Christian Complementarity in the Perspective of Quantum Physics
Author(s): PAN-CHIU, Lai
Journal: Studies in Interreligious Dialogue
Volume: 12    Issue: 2   Date: 2002   
Pages: 148-164
DOI: 10.2143/SID.12.2.504426

Abstract :
The idea of Buddhist-Christian complementarity is by no means new. But what is meant by 'complementarity'? In quantum physics, the concept of complementarity has been extensively discussed due to the introduction of this as a principle by Niels Bohr. This principle is also one of the hotly debated issues in the area of religion and natural science. Many scholars attempt to show that there are cases in Christian theology comparable to the complementarity in quantum physics. The most discussed case is perhaps the Christological doctrines of the two natures in Jesus Christ. In Religion and Science: History, Method, Dialogue, edited by W. Mark Richardson and Wesley J. Wildman, there are three essays addressing the issue of Christology and complementarity. Some scholars even attempt to interpret the relationship between theology and science in terms of complementarity. This kind of discussion is not merely fanciful imagination originated by Christian theologians, since even Bohr himself advised Christian theologians to apply the complementarity principle to theology. An interesting question may cast light on the problem of Buddhist-Christian complementarity. This is the issue this essay will address.

Download article