Chinese Christian Theology

Abstract

This article offers an overview of some of the major Christian theological themes that have arisen from the concerns of Chinese Catholic and Protestant Christians since the seventeenth century. It explores contextual factors that have shaped competing categories of loyalty, from differing cultural, religious, and philosophical starting points, to socio-political realities of Western imperialism, and Chinese nationalism and politics. The article examines theological themes that are prioritized by Chinese Christians related to the motif of the ‘family’, understandings of the human condition, and the importance of fostering a spirituality of suffering and an expression of public faith. Whilst in no way comprehensive, this article attempts to offer vignettes of how Chinese Christians, primarily from the Chinese mainland, have wrestled with the faith and offered distinctive expressions of what can be termed Chinese Christian theology.