Studying Christianity in China : constructions of an emerging discourse / by Naomi Thurston.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Thurston, Naomi, author.

Series:

Theology and mission in world Christianity ; v. 8.

Theology and mission in world Christianity ; volume 8

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Christianity--China.

Christianity.

Church history.

China.

China--Church history--20th century.

China--Church history--21st century.

Genre:

Church history.

Physical Description:

xxiii, 283 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, [2018]

Summary:

Studying Christianity in China' introduces an emerging academic trend in contemporary Chinese scholarship. Through qualitative interviews with leading experts in Chinese Christian studies, Naomi Thurston has investigated the ongoing conversation between China and Christianity. Since the 1980s, this conversation has given rise to an interdisciplinary academic field that is quickly gaining traction as a cutting-edge, cross-cultural discourse. The Chinese intellectuals driving this field are encountered as unique transmitters of cultural knowledge: they are cultural mediators working in a range of humanities and social science disciplines who are not only re-interpreting Western theology, but are also lending a new voice to Chinese expressions of the Christian faith. As such, they are at the forefront of a novel force in World Christianity.

Contents:

Part 1 Introduction, Methodology and Background

1.1 Sino-Christian Theology and Sino-Christian Studies p. 3

1.2 Background and Concerns of the Study p. 9

1.2.1 What Motivates Chinese Scholars of Christianity? p. 9

1.2.2 Advantage of a Non-Mainstream Vantage Point p. 11

1.2.3 "Religion Fever" of the 1980s p. 12

1.2.4 Questions and Aims p. 13

1.3 Current State of Research and Works Consulted p. 15

1.3.1 Research on Religion and the Religious Question p. 15

1.3.2 Research on Christianity in China p. 17

1.3.3 Works Introducing Sino-Christian Theology and Sino-Christian Studies p. 21

1.4 Plan of the Chapters p. 30

2 Theory, Terms and Methodology p. 32

2.1 Approaching a Phenomenon: "What Manner of Men Are These?" p. 33

2.1.1 Motivations p. 33

2.1.2 A Geertzian Definition of Culture p. 34

2.1.3 Thick Description p. 36

2.2 The Terminological Instability of "Sino-Christian Theology" p. 38

2.2.1 Definitions of Sino-Christian Theology p. 38

2.2.2 Early Mainland Pioneers of Sino-Christian Theology p. 40

2.2.3 Implications of Terminology and Interviewee Selection p. 42

2.3.1 Anonymity p. 44

2.3.3 Grounded Theory p. 47

3 Religious Studies and Christianity in Contemporary China p. 49

3.1 Approaching Religion in Post-Secular Chinese Society p. 50

3.2 Confronting Chinese Modernity: Theology Versus Ethicization p. 56

3.3 Evaluating Sino-Christian Studies p. 64

Part 2 Studying Christianity in China

4 The Making of Christian Studies in the Chinese Academy p. 69

4.1 Institutions and Institutional Structures p. 69

4.1.1 Institutes and Centres of Religious Studies and Studies on Christianity p. 69

4.2 Developing Christian Studies in Mainland China p. 73

4.2.1 Early Representatives and the "Cultural Christian" Epithet in the 1990s p. 73

4.2.2 Interdisciplinary, Cross-Cultural in Outlook and Open to Dialogue p. 78

4.2.3 Sino-Christian Studies and Translating Christian Theology p. 80

4.3 Generational Distinctions Within the Sphere of Sino-Christian Studies p. 81

5 Trendsetting: Senior Scholars and the Social Sciences p. 86

5.1 China's "Lost Generation" p. 86

5.2 Introducing Scholarly Types p. 90

5.3 "Type 2": Observing Christianity in Chinese Society p. 99

5.3.1 An "Academic Trend" and Commitment to Value Neutrality p. 102

5.3.2 Excursus on the Cultural Christian Debate p. 103

5.4 Historical Perspectives p. 110

5.4.1 Wariness and. Weariness of Ideology p. 110

5.4.2 Openness Toward the Study of Religion p. 113

5.4.3 Why I Study Christianity p. 113

5.4.4 An Historian of Chinese Intellectual History Talks about Sino-Christian Theology p. 115

5.5 Claiming a Marginal Status p. 117

6 The Core of the Phenomenon: Senior Generation Theologians and Philosophers p. 120

6.1 Promoting and Developing Sino-Christian Theology p. 123

6.1.1 Hong Kong Theologians p. 123

6.2 Catholic Theology: A Beijing Theologian Shares His Perspective p. 129

6.3 Sino-Christian Theology: A Handmaiden for Philosophy? p. 132

6.3.1 "Type 3": Separation of Church and State p. 134

6.3.2 Double Role: Church Theologian and Academic Researcher p. 135

6.3.3 A "Type 5" Senior Philosopher p. 138

6.3.4 Other Types p. 140

6.4 The Potential of Sino-Christian Theology and Sino-Christian Studies p. 141

7 The Younger Scholars p. 144

7.1 Disciplinary Diversification Among the Younger Scholars p. 148

7.1.1 Ranking of Faculties and Departments p. 148

7.1.2 Scholarly Types and the Younger Generation p. 153

7.2 Recognizing the Accomplishments of Senior Scholars p. 156

7.3 Sixiang and Xueshu - Thinking and Learning p. 162

7.4 The Weak Link of Biblical Studies p. 165

7.5 Vitality in the Margins p. 167

7.6 Christian and Non-Christian Identity Among the Younger Scholars p. 171

7.7 The Role of Theology p. 178

8 Analysis and Argumentation: Marginality and Sino-Christian Studies p. 182

8.1 Marginality and Prominence p. 182

8.2 Openness for the Marginal and the Interpretive Position of Tolerance p. 188

8.3 Legitimizing an Emerging Discourse p. 197

8.4 Suspended in Interdisciplinary Space p. 204

9.1 Translating Christianity into Chinese p. 211

9.2 Insiders/Outsiders: Voices from the Margins p. 212

9.3 Contributions of the Study p. 225

9.4 Suggestions for Further Research p. 230

9.5 A Return to the Public Space? p. 231.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Thurston, Naomi. Studying Christianity in China.

ISBN:

9789004361287

9004361286

OCLC:

1015826356