Objectives

1. Today and Tomorrow
   Ever since its earliest founding days, Chung Yuan Christian University has been staunchly following its motto “Faith in Deeds” (篤信力行) based on the rock solid belief in Jesus Christ. This Graduate School was set up to perpetuate this Christian heritage, in the hope of turning it into a prevailing trend in Taiwan 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 Science 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 sharing 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, fine arts 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 the great unity.
   
   
2. What Makes Us Unique
   This Institute dedicated to the study of Christianity from an academic perspective, seeks to explore and develop the thoughts and culture unique to Christian belief and apply such precious resources to of contemporary Chinese culture and social studies.
   
   It seeks also to cultivate for domestic needs research experts, who will contribute to (a) the Philosophical Study of Christianity (b) the promotion of the “Chinesization” of Christian Theology, (c) the endeavor to establish the connectiveness between Christianity and Chinese history, culture, fine arts and art.
   
   All these would seek to upgrade the quality of the human resources for Christian social welfare.
   
   To achieve these goals, the Graduate School of Religion has been setting up and developing exclusive research centers for specialized fields or issues of great concern such as Sino-Christian Theology, Biblical Studies, Systematic Theology, Christianity and Chinese Culture, Global Christianity…etc.
   
   
3. Our Goals
   
   1. To cultivate academic research scholars or experts as well as Life Education experts for local needs.
   2. To cultivate experts in the research of local Christianity.
   3. To train professionals so as to promote the standard of local Christian social welfare service, Christian literatures, culture and arts.
   4. To collaborate with Seminaries of Christian Theology or of Christian Spirituality in Taipei Area or in Taoyuan, Xinzhu and Miaoli counties on offering extension programs to train full-time or on-the-job Christian workers.
   5. To set up a PhD program.
   6. To promote international academic exchange by
      
      1. hosting international academic conferences every year.
      2. developing international academic exchanges.
      3. planning special-topic talk series hosted by internationally renowned scholars.
      4. promoting cross-disciplinary studies of Christianity and Humanities.
      5. establishing international students exchange program.
   7. To promote integration of cross-disciplinary studies by
      1. publishing academic journals or book series
      2. developing and integrating the Christian-related curricula within the University
   
   promoting the collaboration on cross-disciplinary studies between this Institute and Christian churches or related religious bodies.
4. Career Prospect
   Graduates are prepared to pursue the careers in the following areas:
   
   1. Administrators with religious organizations
   2. Teachers of religious education
   3. Full-time pastors
   4. Deacons at churches
   5. Counselors
   6. Pursuing a PhD degree
5. To hold Theological Conferences, Workshops, Seminars & Speeches.