HKBU Department of Religion and Philosophy

08/09/2026

📖基督教教育中心的故事 @ 「記憶浸大：校園發展地圖」

浸會大學圖書館最近推出了全新數碼平台 —「記憶浸大：校園發展地圖」，回顧七十年來浸大校園的蛻變，重溫珍貴回憶。當中更包含了宗哲系的「地頭」 - 基督教教育中心的發展史。

⛪基督教教育中心建於溫仁才大樓北側教職員停車場原址，由已故呂明才先生之子呂高超先生於1973年提出籌建，並由呂氏基金會支持建築費用。此七層建築於1976年4月24日奠基，1977年初竣工，並於1978年7月9日由美國浸信會總秘書及世界浸聯會副會長羅金寶牧師主持大樓奉獻典禮。 大樓由校董會副主席黃汝光博士設計，樓下兩層設有康樂中心和停車場，一樓為逾400座的禮拜堂（1977年5月定名基督教大專禮拜堂），另有課室、音樂室、會議室及校牧辦公室等，成為基督教活動的核心。頂層亦設職員宿舍，供訪客與教職員使用。基督教大專禮拜堂於1995年5月改名為大學禮拜堂，標誌著學校從學院升格為大學的重大轉變。

註: 圖片摘自「記憶浸大：校園發展地圖」https://digital.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/hkbutimescape/zh/index.html

📖 The Story behind CEC Building@ ”HKBU Memories: Campus Development Map“

HKBU Library has recently launched a new digital platform, ”HKBU Memories: Campus Development Map“, which takes visitors on a journey through the University‘s 70-year transformation and development, rekindling cherished campus memories. The platform also features the history of the Christian Education Centre, the home of the Department of Religion and Philosophy, offering valuable insights into its development over the years.

💻Read More: https://digital.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/hkbutimescape/zh/index.html

08/09/2026

【聚會報道】
人工智能時代談人與AI之辨
羅秉祥籲人保持道德自覺

人工智能（AI）發展一日千里，聊天機械人能夠接收愈來愈複雜的指令，完成多種人類的工作，甚至回答我們不同的疑難。然而，這也促使我們反思AI與人類的分別何在。於7月一個關於AI倫理的講座上，美國福樂神學院教授羅秉祥從儒家「人禽之辨」的基礎，探討「人機之辨」。他提醒，人切忌將科技擬人化，並且必須保持道德自覺，擔起人倫責任，對靈性有所追求，從而保持人獨有的特質。

▍ 人禽之辨　在於有義與是非之心
是次講座由香港浸會大學應用倫理學中心與中國神學研究院合辦，是第二十屆「建構中國生命倫理學」研討會的活動之一。羅秉祥嘗試從華人文化土壤來思考，循上帝賜予全人類的普遍啟示進路，借儒家的「人禽之辨」剖析「人機之辨」。

孟子曰：「人之所以異於禽獸者幾希，庶民去之，君子存之。」意指人與禽獸的差別非常微小。羅秉祥指區別兩者的關鍵，在於把當中的些微差異「去之」抑或「存之」。荀子同樣提到人與死物及動物只存在少許差異，就是在於人有義與是非之心。……

▍ AI說話猶如鸚鵡學舌　知其形不知其意
《禮記．曲禮》有云：「鸚鵡能言，不離飛鳥；猩猩能言，不離禽獸。今人而無禮，雖能言，不亦禽獸之心乎？」西方也有類似論述。羅秉祥引述來自華盛頓大學的語言學家Emily Bender的說法：「You Are Not a Parrot. And a chatbot is not a human.」她以此形容聊天機械人的功能，不過就如鸚鵡一般說話，而非人類。

然而，Emily Bendero的論述惹來不少批評，她與許多科學家就著聊天機械人能否明白人類的說話不斷辯論。……

▍ 能言善道非人類特徵　勿將科技比擬成人
在Emily Bendero的文章中，她拒絕使用「AI」這字眼，指當中intelligent一字，將科技擬人化。羅秉祥隨即指出，中文的擬人化情況更嚴重；在內地、台灣等華語地區，chatbot被稱作聊天機器／械人，即以「人」稱之。而Emily Bendero正正提醒我們，切忌將科技擬人化。……

▍ AI如小人「口耳之學」　人類學習講求心性轉化
接著，羅秉祥從儒家有關學習的角度，探討人與AI之別。他指孔子所談的「學」，是學做人；而學的境界，就是指個人的修養程度，有《論語》英文譯本更直指是靈性旅程（spiritual journey）。……

荀子《勸學》也提到，小人學習僅限於聽後複述，但君子之學則是聽進心裡，繼而有所行動。羅秉祥直言，AI顯然是口耳之學，亦即荀子所言的小人之學。當學習要「著乎心」，便須默想、反省……

談到今天AI發展的危險之處，羅秉祥認為並非AI似人，而是人將自己矮化似AI。……

全文：https://tinyurl.com/ye2yehtu
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#人工智能 #羅秉祥 #道德自覺 #時代論壇

08/09/2026

[ 宗哲系 Freshmen 限定‼️]

[ 教授級人馬傳授宗哲系最強讀書攻略 ‼️]

[ 聽完攻略仲可以同宗哲系老師一齊食飯吹水㖭😋🍽️]

📱Online Registration : https://shorturl.at/FX6us

💡宗哲系迎新講座系列 / RPE Orientation Talks 2026: How to Excel in Studying RPE?

📅Dates : 23 Sep, 7 Oct, 21 Oct 2026 (Wed)

⏰Time : 6:30-8:15pm (sharing & talk) followed by light dinner

🏫Venue: To be confirmed

📔Target : ALL RPE major students, priority to RPE freshmen

📌1st Talk (23 Sep, Wed): Introduction: How to Read and What we are Doing in the Department?

📌2nd Talk (7 Oct, Wed): How to do Research?

📌3rd Talk (21 Oct, Wed): How to Write a Research Paper?

03/09/2026

🎓✨ Welcome, M.A. in Ethics and Public Affairs Class of 2026! ✨🎓

A new academic journey begins today, and we are thrilled to welcome our newest cohort to the M.A. in Ethics and Public Affairs family.

03/09/2026

[📕Staff Publication] The sustainable AI development contradiction: Chinese policy on sustainability and the costs of AI development by Prof. Levi Checketts

📘Abstract
The ecological cost of developing artificial intelligence, particularly the cost caused by data centers, has been detailed by many scholars, but few have outlined what this implies for specific countries. This review paper brings together reporting on the forecast of ecological harm to China from various forms of industrialization, including climate change, and the ecological impact of AI development. The author suggests that relying on “AI for sustainability” as a solution to ecological problems is a type of “moral hazard,” borrowing a metaphor from economics, because treating AI as insurance against climate change may inhibit governments from taking necessary action now to move toward negative carbon emissions. Considering the situation of China, the author contends that the actual environmental toll of AI presents a significant ecological problem. Three interconnected ecological problems are reviewed: AI’s carbon emissions, AI’s water costs, and ecological devastation tied to AI hardware production and disposal. Together with forecasts from the World Meteorological Organization’s, this bodes poorly for the future of China. Using the political philosophy of the Communist Party of China, the author argues that it is in the stated interest of the People’s Republic of China to pursue limited AI with caution, fully attuned to the increased harm that industrialism poses to the People, and oriented toward a truly ecologically harmonious future.

💻Read More: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00146-026-03296-z?utm_source=rct_congratemailt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=oa_20260902&utm_content=10.1007%2Fs00146-026-03296-z&fbclid=IwY2xjawUF1j1wZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4PKHu5B_wmWLUIB8U6eXWVmSA-VgeGrnJL8B5jD-13G-9kI4JhbzBCWPFLqQ_aem_TsstbgtBiMoikq-0gP1-3w

01/09/2026

🎉 Welcome to our new undergraduate students of the B.A. (Hons) in Religion, Philosophy and Ethics!

Wishing everyone a fruitful, inspiring, and successful academic year ahead! 🌟

Special thanks to HKBU Religion and Philosophy society committee member ‘s effort to the event❤️ !

19/08/2026

📣講莊子 !
📍歡迎 Undergraduate 同學旁聽 !!
📍Level 7 Course for PhD Student !！

📕REL7040 Selected Masterpieces in Chinese Religions

🎤Instructor: Prof. Kevin J. Turner

📍 Venue: WLB209

⏰ Time: THU 9:30-12:30nn

📕 Target: PhD Student of Academy of Academy of Chinese, History, Religion, and Philosophy

📅 First day of class: 3 Sep 2026 (Thu)

💻Course Overview:
This course is focused on a close reading of the Zhuangzi 莊子. It will read select passages from the Zhuangzi on the concept of wu 無 (nothing/absence/nothingness) inclusive of the large set of relevant terms such as xuan 玄, hundun 混沌, wuxing 無形, wuming 無名 and so on. The concept of wu and its associated terms ared involve the Zhuangzi’s theories, therefore, gie them special attention will reveal cosmological, practical, and political dimensions of the Zhuangzi’s philosophy. This course will read the Zhuangzi in both the original Chinese and in modern and English translation. Through this course, students will not only better understand the philosophy of the Zhuangzi, but they will also learn how to read classical texts of Chinese philosophy in a comparative context.

13/08/2026

星期日就截止喇‼️

詳情請留意學系電郵‼️

🎉 Welcome to the Department of Religion and Philosophy family! 🎉

We’re excited to meet our new freshmen and introduce you to our amazing professors at our Orientation Day! Join us on 31 Aug (Mon), 11:30am - 5pm at the HKBU Chapel.

Get ready to:
✨ Meet your professors and academic advisor
✨ Hear inspiring talks and stories from teachers and senior schoolmates
✨ Discover more about your study plan, future career, and life at HKBU!

Don’t miss out—this is the perfect chance to kickstart your university journey! Check your email from the Department for all the details. See you there! 👋

10/08/2026

[📕Staff Publication] - Wisdom Proceeding : A Thomistic Account of the Nature of Theology by Rev. Prof. James ROONEY

📗About the book:
This book proposes a Thomistic account of theology, arguing that understanding God requires holiness and faith, not merely exceptional theological reasoning. In doing so, it avoids the pitfalls of abstract academic study detached from piety.

Christian theology, classically understood, aims at understanding God. However, academic theology—often centred on hermeneutics, historical texts, and the systematic articulation of dogmas—raises significant concerns. At best, it becomes an abstract study of what we say about God, distanced from faith and piety. At worst, it devolves into a speculative enterprise that risks fostering scepticism. Thomas Aquinas held that theology is a true scientific discipline, grounded in evidence, logical reasoning, rigorous argumentation, and the close examination of historical sources. He demonstrated that theology provides knowledge comparable to disciplines such as mathematics, history, or philosophy. The author argues that Aquinas’ account of theology reveals how understanding God is deeply connected to personal holiness, offering a compelling vision for today—one in which theology, when done well, both arises from and nourishes a living faith in the God it seeks to study.

This book is an invaluable resource for theologians, scholars, and students of theology, philosophy, and religious studies, particularly those interested in Thomistic thought and in pursuing a rigorous yet faith-integrated approach to theological study and practice.

💻Read More:
https://www.routledge.com/Wisdom-Proceeding-A-Thomistic-Account-of-the-Nature-of-Theology/Rooney/p/book/9781041335740?fbclid=IwY2xjawTmF9xwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6rJ9Ln903cTqzJ1Mx3SAjaPqS0weZBgfIGqESa3hnxviHZYZVlis3EAOBFJA_aem_R_Jl8gTvngoQu_zTEc8iWg

This book proposes a Thomistic account of theology, arguing that understanding God requires holiness and faith, not merely exceptional theological reasoning. In doing so, it avoids the pitfalls of abstract academic study detached from piety. Christian theology, classically understood, aims at unders...

07/08/2026

【宗哲系 Major Elective 簡介 (Semester 1, 2026-2027)📢】

📙RELI4036 Religion and Ideology

🎤Course Instructor: Prof. Chan Shun Hing

⏰Timeslot: THU 14:30 - 17:30

🌍 想了解宗教點樣影響社會？ 🧠 想知道意識形態點樣塑造我哋嘅價值觀？
呢個課程帶你由理論出發，認識宗教與意識形態嘅關係，再將知識應用到現實世界，分析香港社會嘅熱門議題。無論你對社會、文化定宗教有興趣，都歡迎一齊探索！✨

This course introduces the concept of ideology and its vital role in understanding religion within the modern world. By the conclusion of this course, students will be able to explain foundational social theories concerning the relationship between religion and ideology. Furthermore, students will develop the analytical skills necessary to evaluate contemporary issues intersecting religion and ideology, with a specific focus on the Hong Kong context.

📕Course Content
• Introduction to Religion and Ideology
• The Marxian Tradition: Ideology as False Consciousness
• The Durkheim Tradition: Ritual, Solidarity, and Sacred Ideals
• The Weberian Tradition: Worldviews, Ethics, and Rationalization
• Intersectionality: Religion and Gender Ideology
• Global Perspectives: Religion, Ideology, and World Politics

📕Tutorial Readings and Discussions
 Bron Taylor, “Rebels Against the Anthropocene? Ideology, spirituality, Popular
Culture, and Human Domination of the World within the Disney Empire.” (2019)
 Justine Greve, “Jesus Didn’t Tap: Masculinity, Theology, and Ideology in
Christian Mixed Martial Arts.” (2014)
 Iver B. Neumann, “Pop Goes Religion: Harry Potter Meets Clifford Geertz.”
(2006)
 Ian Gordon, “Ideology and Morality.” In Superman: The Persistence of an
American Icon.” (2017)