Wan-Yin Lim
PhD student

 

Current situation

Member of Chinese Annual Conference (CAC), The Methodist Church in Malaysia

 

Subject

Building Peace in Malaysia: An Interdisciplinary Development of Malaysian Chinese Methodist Peace Theology and Peace Studies

 

Research Area

This thesis, Building Peace in Malaysia: An Interdisciplinary Development of Malaysian Chinese Methodist Peace Theology and Peace Studies, aims to examine the feasibility of integrating peace theology and peace studies o develop a context-specific Malaysian Chinese Methodist peace theology within Malaysia’s multiethnic, multireligious, and multicultural context. Rooted in the Methodist tradition and written from a Malaysian Chinese perspective, it integrates theology and peace studies to develop a contextual peace theology.

This thesis consists of two parts. The first part begins by examining foundational perspectives using the theological method of the Methodist Quadrilateral: Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience. It explores the biblical foundations of peace, the historical and theological engagement of Methodists with peace, reasoning how peace studies as an interdisciplinary tool for developing a theology of peace, and examins the lived experiences of Malaysian Chinese, illustrating how these experiences inform theological reflection to develop a theology of peace. These perspectives then inform a systematic approach to developing the theology of peace, structured around four key theological themes. First, God the Creator establishes the ontological of peace through creation, human dignity, and the image of God. Second, Jesus the Redeemer reveals how peacebuilding in the Malaysian context is shaped through embodying reconciliation, nonviolence, and redemptive suffering from a Malaysian Chinese perspective. Third, Spirit the Advocate sustains peacebuilding by empowering Malaysian Chinese Methodists in multiethnic, multireligious, and multicultural contexts. Fourth, an eschatological peace envisions the ultimate fulfilment of peace in Christian eschatology, shaping contemporary peacebuilding efforts. The thesis highlights the implications for an interdisciplinary study of peace theology. It focuses on the role of Malaysian Chinese Methodist peacemakers in navigating conflicts and building peace in a multiethnic, multireligious, and multicultural society. Eventually, it provides critical and holistic responses for understanding and addressing war, violence, conflict, and peace issues. Ultimately, this interdisciplinary examination of peace theology, developed as a Malaysian Chinese Methodist Peace Theology, makes a meaningful contribution to contemporary discussions in peace theology, public theology, Asian theology, Christian social ethics, and Global Methodism.

 

 

 

Supervisory team

Dr Richard A Davis
Professor Emerita Pauline Kollontai

Journal Articles

Lim, W.-Y. (2024) ‘Planetary Health and Us: A Respond’, in J.C.K.李祖国 Lee (ed.) This Is Our Father’s World: Creation Care Theology & Praxis [这是天父世界: 生态关顾的神学与实践]. Kuala Lumpur 吉隆坡: Chinese Annual Conference Methodist Church in Malaysia [马来西亚卫理公会华人年议会] (Collected Essays of the Creation Care Theology Conference [生态神学研讨会论文集]), pp. 114–132

Book Reviews

Lim, W.-Y. (2024) ‘Book Review: Liberating the Politics of Jesus: Renewing Peace Theology Through the Wisdom of Women. Elizabeth Soto Albrecht and Darryl W. Stephens (eds) T&T Clark (T&T Clark Studies in Anabaptist and Ethics), London and New York, 2020.’, Holiness, 9(2), pp. 113–114. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2478/holiness-2024-0017.

Lim, W.-Y. (2024) ‘Book Review: Ketika Agama Bawa Damai, Bukan Perang: Belajar Dari “Imam Dan Pastor”. Ihsan Ali-Fauzi (eds) PUSAD Paramadina, Jakarta, 2017’, Aradha: Journal of Divinity, Peace and Conflict Studies, 2(2(2022)), pp. 173–177. Available at: https://doi.org/10.21460/aradha.2022.22.92.

Lim, W.-Y. (2023) ‘Book Review: Decolonizing Interreligious Education: Developing Theologies of Accountability. Shannon Frediani. Lexington Books (Postcolonial and decolonial studies in religion and theology), Lanham Boulder New York London, 2023.’, Practical Theology, pp. 1–2. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1756073X.2023.2262680.

Newspaper Articles

Davis, R.Q. and Lim, W.-Y. (2024) ‘When Peace Encounters Technology on Earth’, Methodist Recorder, 19 January, p. 24.

Lim, W.-Y.林婉莹 (2021) ‘解封后,为什么回到教会不是信徒的首选 [When Restrictions are Lifted, Why Don’t People Choose to Return to Church as Their First Option?]’, 时代论坛 [Hong Kong Christian Times]. 1783rd edn, 29 October, pp. 12–13. Available at: https://www.christiantimes.org.hk/Common/Reader/News/ShowNews.jsp?Nid=167074&Pid=2&Version=1783&Cid=588&Charset=big5_hkscs.