A DIOCESE DE MACAU NO ALVORECER DA DIOCESE DE DILI

ABSTRACT

THIS THESIS COMPARES THE CONCEPT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN TWO DIFFERENT TRADITIONS: YI (義) IN MENCIUS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS (ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣΎΝΗ) IN GOSPEL OF MATTHEW. THE STUDY EXAMINES HOW BOTH TRADITIONS UNDERSTAND RIGHTEOUSNESS BY ANALYZING KEY TEXTS AND TEACHINGS. FOR MENCIUS, RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES FROM HUMAN NATURE, PARTICULARLY THE NATURAL SENSE OF SHAME THAT GUIDES MORAL BEHAVIOR. FOR THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES FROM GOD’S WILL AND JESUS’S TEACHINGS ABOUT LIVING ACCORDING TO DIVINE LAW. BOTH TRADITIONS SHARE IMPORTANT SIMILARITIES: THEY EMPHASIZE THAT TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS MUST COME FROM INNER MOTIVATION, NOT JUST EXTERNAL ACTIONS. BOTH REJECT MERE RULEFOLLOWING AND INSTEAD FOCUS ON GENUINE MORAL RESPONSE TO SPECIFIC SITUATIONS. HOWEVER, THEY DIFFER FUNDAMENTALLY IN THEIR FOUNDATIONS AND GOALS. MENCIUS ROOTS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN HUMAN NATURE AND AIMS FOR WORLDLY SOCIAL HARMONY. MATTHEW ROOTS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN GOD'S NATURE AND AIMS FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND ETERNAL LIFE. THIS COMPARISON REVEALS HOW DIFFERENT CULTURES APPROACH MORAL THINKING AND OFFERS INSIGHTS FOR CONTEMPORARY ETHICAL DISCUSSIONS.