神學最原初的意義是神的或關於神的學科。因此，關於神的存在、創造、統治、奧祕以及神的化身等問題都是神學研究的中心議題。此篇論文試圖提供另一個探討神學的方式，作者將此稱為「亞洲人探討神的方式」。神學對亞洲人，尤其對中國人來說，是人為了自身的現世與來世而探討神的學問。從此神學角度思考，作者試圖尋找主導亞洲人思考和生活的中心思想。作者認為，最根本的問題在於如何賦予、養育和延長生命，以及如何使生命具有意義。要能夠回答這個問題，首先對於人、人和神、人和自然以及人和他人之間的關係要有更深刻的了解；然後也要了解什麼樣的生活方式也─就是倫理─能夠使這些關係保持健全。作者在此提議以「和諧」─被視為原則和促使各種關係健全的動力─作為亞洲神學和倫理的一個範疇。

Theology in its most original sense is a science of and about God.
Hence the questions of God’s existence, works, reign, mystery as well as
incarnation have always been the focus of theological studies. This paper
attempts a different approach to theology, namely “an Asian approach
to God.” For Asian people, especially Chinese, theology takes a human
approach to understanding God for the sake of their lives in the present
as well as notions of an afterlife. In Asia, one’s approach to God is akin
to one’s approach to life. For Asian people, the fundamental question
is how to give, foster and prolong life as well as to make it meaningful.
Theology thus includes finding an answer to those questions that require
a deep knowledge of why man cultivates relationships with God, nature
and fellow human beings as well as how these relationships are realized
through ethical systems. Asian thinkers take harmony as the principle
that explains the process of life-giving, life-fostering and prolonging life.
This is why I would like to propose harmony as a crucial category of
Asian theology and ethics.