Abstract

Asians face the following problems will feel disturbed: Christians hold on as long as the "spiritual poverty" is enough, or must comply with the real "material poverty" ? In other words, the ethical point of view of Christian life, Christians can do to get rich? In religious and secular wealth paradox seems to exist between the phenomenon of Taiwan in terms of the Catholic laity, religious ethics and wealth can resolve the contradiction between what? Therefore, this study first, sort out the wealth of the Catholic discipline of ethical principles; Secondly, the discussion theologians, scholars of contemporary Christian concept of wealth for their comments. Finally, according to the results of the first two parts of the analysis implicit in the Christian faith and wealth the dilemma between the road and attempted to resolve. It is confusing for many people here in Asia facing the following questions. From the viewpoints of Christian bioethics, is it enough to keep the norm of the poor in spirit only, or still need to follow the request of material poverty in order to be a genuine Christian? In other words, does a Christian allow to become rich? It seems to appear a paradox phenomenon between religious faith and secular wealth. So we may ask, as a catholic lay people, can he or she resolve the dilemma between them? Therefore the article is first to find out the social thought or the ethics of wealth confirmed by Catholic doctrine. After this, the article is to discuss various views of theologians and contemporary scholars. Finally, basing on the above results, it is to analyze the dilemma between the faith and wealth implicit in Christianity, and hopefully to try to solve them