Dictionary of Philosophy of Religion

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