Studying Christianity in China

Naomi Thurston holds a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (2015). She currently works at Sichuan University in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Her recent publications include “Reading Religion in China Today” (Review of Religion and Chinese Society, 2017).

"Thurston succeeds in ascertaining the intellectual and theological depth that transcends intergenerational scholarship in China. This is quite the feat and quite the gift for English readers.", Erin Rafferty, Princeton Theological Seminary, in: Journal of World Christianity Volume 10.1 (2020)"In short, Thurston has written an insightful analysis of Sino-Christian humanism in contemporary China, and her findings should appeal to anyoneinterested in Chinese theology and church history." Joseph Tse-Hei Lee, in: Exchange Volume 48 (2019)."Those interested in ministering to mainland scholars will benefit from Thurston’s categorization of Chinese scholars of Christianity as well as the many personal interviews contained in this study. For those less directly engaged with Chinese scholars, this book provides four valuable insights that will affect the future of Christianity in China." - Chinasource Blog Posts, May 8, 2019 (link visited Sept. 9, 2019)

• ContentsForeword by Thomas JansenForeword by Jason LamPrefaceAcknowledgmentsList of Tables and ChartsPart 1: Introduction, Methodology and Background1 Introduction1.1 Sino-Christian Theology and Sino-Christian Studies1.2 Background and Approach, Questions and Aims1.3 Current State of Research and Works Consulted1.4 Plan of the Chapters2 Theory, Terms and Methodology2.1 Approaching a Phenomenon: “What Manner of Men Are These?”2.2 The Terminological Instability of “Sino-Christian Theology”2.3 Methodology3 Religious Studies and Christianity in China Today3.1 Approaching Religion in Post-Secular Chinese Society3.2 Confronting Chinese Modernity: Theology Versus Ethicization3.3 Evaluating Sino-Christian StudiesPart 2: Studying Christianity in China4 Development and Institutional Context of Sino-Christian Studies4.1 Institutions and Institutional Structures4.2 Developing Christian Studies in Mainland China4.3 Generational Distinctions Within the Sphere of Sino-Christian Studies5 Trendsetting: Senior Scholars and the Social Sciences5.1 China’s “Lost Generation”5.2 Introducing Scholarly Types: The Common Thread of Academic Commitment5.3 “Type 2”: Observing Christianity in Chinese Society5.4 Historical Perspectives5.5 Why the Marginal-Status Claim?6 The Core of the Phenomenon: Senior Generation Theologians and Philosophers6.1 Hong Kong Theologians: Mining the Symbolic Power of Sino-Christian Theology6.2 Catholic Theology: A Beijing Theologian Shares His Perspective6.3 Sino-Christian Theology: A Handmaiden for Philosophy?6.4 The Potential of Sino-Christian Theology and Sino-Christian Studies7 The Younger Scholars7.1 Disciplinary Diversification Among the Younger Scholars7.2 Recognizing the Accomplishments of Senior Scholars7.3 The Missing Link of Biblical Studies7.4 Vitality in the Margins7.5 Christian and Non-Christian Identity Among the Younger Scholars7.6 The Role of Theology8 Analysis and Argumentation: Marginality and Sino-Christian Studies8.1 Marginality and Prominence8.2 Openness for the Marginal: Appraising the Interpretive Position of Tolerance8.3 Inquiry, Discourse, Discipline: Legitimizing an Emerging Discourse8.4 Suspended in Interdisciplinary SpacePart 3: Conclusion and Appendix9 Conclusion9.1 Translating Christianity into Chinese9.2 Insiders/Outsiders: Voices from the Margins9.3 Contributions of the Study9.4 Suggestions for Further Research9.5 A Final ThoughtAppendixInterview Transcripts1 Interview with Senior Generation Scholar, Theology and Religious Studies2 Interview with Senior Generation Scholar, Theology and Religious Studies3 Interview with Younger Scholar, Philosophy4 Interview with Younger Scholar, TheologyInterview Guide (Interviews 10–38)BibliographyIndex