The goal of moral values is to shine like constellations in our lives, lighting the path toward the perfection of our character. The word perfection traces back to the Latin perfectio, meaning to complete or finish. In a wider sense, it calls us to bring something to its fullest bloom, much like a life ripening into maturity. The Latin perfectus means to have acted or finished, mirroring the perfect tense in grammar, which marks something fully realized.
For ancient philosophers, perfection was the music of harmony, order, and proportion. Plato saw perfection as the flawless fit, where nothing was out of place.
In Christian philosophy, Jesus established perfection as a fundamental standard: “Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is.” While Matthew uses “perfect,” Luke uses “merciful,” reflecting early Christians’ belief that mercy best represents God’s character. St. Augustine, in De perfectione iustitiae hominis (PL 44 c. 233 n.), discusses the pursuit of perfection, defining a perfect person not as one who has achieved perfection, but as one who strives for it. Moral values guide this journey.
Here, we invite you, our esteemed reader, to explore perspectives on these values that have been shared by humanity for centuries, and to discover stories of remarkable individuals—especially from the Indo-Pacific—who have brought these ideals to life.
Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity, without other evidence. The belief that something is true. I have strong faith or no faith in the testimony of a witness, or in what a historian narrates. 2. The assent of the mind to the truth of a proposition advanced by another; belief, or probable evidence of any kind. 3. In theology, the assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has revealed. Simple belief of the scriptures, of the being and perfections of God, and of the existence, character and doctrines of Christ, founded on the testimony of the sacred writers, is called historical or speculative faith; a faith little distinguished from the belief of the existence and achievements of Alexander or of Cesar. (An American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828)
Fr. Michel Benoist (8 Oct 1715 – 23 Oct 1774) was a Jesuit scientist and court adviser in Qing China. His achievements included major artistic/engineering contributions in Beijing—especially work linked to the Old Summer Palace—while serving for decades in the Qianlong Emperor’s orbit. His achievements included religious dedication and cultural-educational engagement during a complex era in China, leaving a lasting footprint through missionary work and community influence.
Watchman Nee (4 Nov 1903 – 30 May 1972) was a Chinese Christian theologian and founder of the Local Church (“Little Flock”) movement. His achievements included extensive Bible teaching and church organization across China, and training believers through conferences and writing—while he later suffered long imprisonment for his faith. His significant achievement was shaping a generation of believers through prolific Bible teaching, emphasizing spiritual formation, church life, and practical faith lived out in daily conduct rather than only doctrine.