Dictionary of Philosophy of Religion

(Dana P.) #1
47

CLARKE, SAMUEL

human influence. See also ABRAHAMIC
FAITHS.


CHRISTOLOGY. The study of Christ
and his nature. A high Christology or
Christology from above emphasizes Christ’s
divinity whereas low Christology or Chris-
tology from below stresses the humanity
of Jesus. Relative to this distinction,
creedal Christology in, say, Chalcedon,
seeks the golden mean between the high
and low. See also JESUS and TRINITY.


CHRYSOSTOM, JOHN (c. 347–407).
One of the great fathers of the early
Christian church. Chrysostom was raised
in Antioch and schooled in the Greek
classical tradition and in the “Antiochene
school” of biblical exegesis. He became a
priest in Antioch and was famous for his
preaching; he was known as “John of the
golden tongue.” In 398, he was appointed
patriarch of Constantinople, though he
had to be kidnapped from Antioch out of
fear that the people of Antioch would
prevent his removal from the city. Though
his preaching was just as popular in
Constantinople as it was in Antioch,
Chrysostom made enemies with the
wealthier classes of the great city, particu-
larly due to his opposition to the theater,
horse races, and other luxuries enjoyed
by the wealthy. His most notable enemy
was the Empress Eudoxia. Chrysostom
was eventually exiled from Constantinople
before his death. Chrysostom is best


known for his many homilies, and his
other key works include On Wealthy and
Poverty, Letters to Olympias, and his
Easter Sermon.

CHU HSI. See ZHU XI.

CHUANG TZU. See ZHUANGZI.

CHURCH. In Greek the word for church
was ekklesia, from ek + kaleo (“out” +
“called”), which meant a gathering or an
assembly. Today the term can be used to
refer to a building for worship, a local
Christian community, a denomination, or
all Christians worldwide.

CICERO, MARCUS TULLIUS (106–43
BCE). A statesman, lawyer, and philoso-
pher whose appreciative work on Plato
led Augustine to become deeply influ-
enced by Plato, ultimately paving the way
for Augustine’s conversion to Christianity.
Cicero wrote on many topics in politics
and culture, and he also developed an
argument for God based on the apparent
design of the cosmos. Cicero defended
a form of natural law. His works include
On the Nature of the Gods, On Duties, On
Divination, On the Greatest Good and
Evil, On Friendship, On the Republic, and
On Laws.

CLARKE, SAMUEL (1675–1729). He
developed an influential version of the
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