林語堂博仕的作品是在五十年代美國以英文出版,後來才被翻譯成中文。林語堂博仕精通中文、英語,先在紐約出版以英文寫成的"吾土吾民",描述當時中國及其儒家思想,為外國人揭開中國神祕的面紗,而屝聲國際。後來好像事業發展不太得意,不過其後又以英文出版了"生活的藝術"和這本"From Pagan to Christianity"。
最近在blogring看到貓寫到的狹義基督徒的政治觀,和ziyi的That's the way I am,突然又想到這本書來。我從小便是由濃厚天主教和基督教的影響下成長。回想起來,有點討厭當時自已的思路範疇太過狹窄,做人做事都不夠靈活。
林語堂是以中國文人身份談及個人信仰背景,詮釋中國的道德思想與信念:分別有儒家、道家和佛教等,最後描述林博仕對基督教信仰的了解及生產的信念。簡單來說,作者痛恨教會內一切的繁文縟節,他批評這是變了質的教義,他體會到的拯救並不限制在教會的establishment之內。這是他在中國的精神社會中找不到的慰藉。
因這書是中文譯本,雖然翻譯得不錯,始終覺得看原裝英文版會通順得多。現在由大陸出版社重新包裝,加上優良的紙質,才賣十六元人民幣,可說是十分抵睇。
ziyi said...
have you read the "conversations with God"by Neale Donald Walsch yet? "from pagan to Christianity" sounds v interesting.
Xavier said...
Isn't it came out a few years back? I recalled reading the first one, which is very good. Then, I think there were couple more sequels which I haven't read them yet.
"Pagan" is good except its hard to find the original English version. I think public library have a few but probably not allow to check out :)
ziyi said...
yes,it came out years ago, i have I,II,and III. i was re-reading the I now.
Xavier said...
Sounds like good holiday reading material for me, too :) I've also brought 林語堂 "The art of living". Since its the english verison, maybe easier for me to swallow.
ziyi said...
so have u got From Pagan to Christianity then....english vision....can lend me...?
ziyi said...
they do have the chinese vision in the library.but english vision is orginal?...never mind, i will try to see whether is the simplified chinese vision or not...":)
Xavier said...
You are correct. The one I got is in simplified Chinese when I brought this book in China. I understand the English version is now a rare item.
So I am afraid the one in central library was an old paperback ...