Chinese Theology

Besides studying the Chinese language during this past year, once in a while I have been able to dwell a little bit in seeing how theology is being taught and understood in the Chinese tradition. Of course due to certain events throughout the centuries Christian theology is not in the forefront at various higher learning institutions in China. Though there a few universities that actually have a Religious Study department and then even fewer that have a focus on Christianity.

I have always been fascinated and interested since taking philosophy (heavy on the Greek side) for the M.Div requirements how would Chinese philosophy and culture be understood from the Christian perspective? Christianity and China has had a long and tumultuous history. Of course there have been some high points of Chinese-Christian interactions. The Jesuits (Matteo Ricci) who came during the 16th century and introduced Christianity to the Imperial Court. Though it is not until the last quarter of the 20 century that there have been increase scholarly work in China with regards to Christianity. A theological journal from the Hong Kong seminary that I was reading recently had an article about Patristic Studies in Contemporary China. It pointed out that the translation into Chinese of the Alexandrian fathers' writings is concerned, some valuable work has already been done, but more needs to be done in the future.

Further the author pointed out: "Even if Origenian studies in the Chinese academic circles are still in their early stage, they are felt as an important research field, not least because they offer a paradigmatic model of assimilation of culture within Christianity. Chinese Christian scholars are eager to show how Origen answered the crucial question of the relationship between Christianity and local culture as a possible source of inspiration for their attempt to develop a Sino-Christian theology." Finally, the article ends off with: "The theology of the fathers and in particular the theological language of the oriental fathers of the Alexandrian, Antiochene, and Cappadocian schools is meaningful and suited to the Chinese mind, which is more intuitive and open to symbolism than rational." It is quite fascinating reading the article and so I wonder how would St. Basil a Cappadocian father fit into this theological paradigm?