ABSTRACT
Most discussions and debates about individualism and collectivism have fallen into generalization or even reductionism and lack consensus about the scope of individualistic and collectivistic explanations, the definition and usage of their many key terms, the reasons shaping varieties of individualism or collectivism, and categorizations of individualism and collectivism. Having concerns about both individualism and collectivism, especially the problem of a loss of self that might be caused by both, some philosophers and theologians present and argue for a synthesis of them. Among them, through his development of social trinitarian doctrine, Jurgen Moltmann argues that social trinitarian anthropology is a synthesis between individualism and collectivism. The integration of different definitions and types of individualism and collectivism is needed to provide a more specific definition for each type and subtype and a spectrum for further related studies. Furthermore, whether Christian theological anthropology is a synthesis between individualism and collectivism is also a significant question requiring further studies. After it is confirmed theoretically, the development of a practicing model to solve the problem of a loss of self, caused either by individualism or collectivism, is also a compelling direction for further studies.
