The aim of the Graduate School of Religion is to perpetuate and develop the heritage of Christianity, and make use of this resource to purify souls and thoughts of people in Taiwan. Christianity has existed a long time in the Chinese world. However, finding intellectuals who are willing to devote themselves to perpetuating and developing Christian thought has been very difficult. One of the main reasons is that there are no Christian academic faculties in other universities in Taiwan. Facing the challenges from the intellectual circles of the humanities and social sciences, the purpose in establishing the Graduate School of Religion was to turn Chung Yuan Christian University from a university with Christian features to a university with academic competency in the intellectual circles. Furthermore, we would also like to share the responsibilities of shepherding and purifying minds, a burden which is now only met by the churches in Taiwan. （SDG 3: Good health and well-being）To train researchers in the field of Christian studies, our department offers a wide range of courses, including the philosophy of religion, “Chinesization” of Christian theology, and research on the relationships between Christianity and Chinese culture, history, and art. We have put much effort into building and maintaining a deep and long lasting relationship between teachers and students. We believe teachers learn most by teaching others. Finally, we hope to foster fine communications and connections between churches and religious sects in different religions.（SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals）

This Graduate School of Religion was set up to perpetuate this Christian heritage, in the hope of turning it into a prevailing trend in Taiwan’s society, making it a resource for the purification of the heart and the rectification of the mind.

The Christian belief was introduced into the Chinese-speaking world a long time ago, but there has been a lack of focused intellectual efforts to make its presence stronger or to develop it and perpetuate it. The reason is that there has been no Christian academic institute in the local university system.

The challenges present in the academic disciplines of the humanities and social sciences has prompted the School of Religion to adopt a new mission; that is to turn the University from being just a Christian university to one that not only can compete in the academia and the intellectual world, but at the same time share with the church the responsibilities of pastoring as well as cleansing the heart, mind, and spirit for salvation. Hence, well-equipped scholars of Christian belief are needed. To cope with this demand, various topics for research are offered, such as the study of the Christian belief as a philosophy, the study of the “Chinesization” of Christian Theology as well as research in the inter-connectiveness between Christianity and Chinese history, culture, and art. It is hoped that through these intellectual pursuits, daily interactions between teachers and students would become a basis for solid relationships whereby teaching and learning would become mutually enhancing. Ultimately this institute would become a bridge connecting all Christian churches or denominations of Christian beliefs for greater unity.（SDG 4: Quality Education、SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities）