The Future of Sino-Christian Theology: From the Perspective of Empirical Studies

Empirical Studies have significantly contributed to the understanding of Christianity in Chinese society. After reviewing the empirical studies of Christianity in China since 1949, three presuppositions about Christianity as a research topic show paradigm shifts throughout the development of the social science disciplines and of Christianity itself The first presupposition is that Christianity is seen as a "problem", empirical studies then provide the appropriate solutions to this problem. The second presupposition is that empirical studies follow the scientific value-neutral principle and thus are seen as standard research samples, while Christianity, as well as all the other religions, are then reduced to cultural, economic or other aspects of society only. However, the third presupposition, but also the most innovative approach, is to see Christianity as "Christianity/Religion". As simple reductionism, empirical studies of this approach try to demonstrate the interactions between human subjects and the transcendence. This approach attempts to reveal how human subjects cognize, understand and act in their religious practices. This article reviews these three presuppositions, or approaches, of empirical studies in mainland China, and provides Sino-Christian theology an empirical stance to further understand Christianity in current Chinese society. Also, how Sino-Christian theology, as an ideological resource, can contribute to the paradigm shifts in the social scientific disciplines.