The eschatological resolution and the reconstruction of Christianity

Abstract

The collective conversion to Christianity of mainland Chinese students in America has been noticeable since the early 1990s. My empirical study shows that the social-cultural context of mainland China is the point of departure to explain this religious movement. Psychic deprivation and moral crisis in contemporary Chinese society are among the most important factors that have led Chinese students to seek religious resolution. Upon examining how the barriers that have prevented Chinese intellectuals from accepting Christianity have been cleared up and analyzing why Buddhism is less influential among the Chinese student community, I suggested that Christianity, after the active and effective reconstruction by the Chinese Christian organizations, became compatible with the scientific, rational and modernistic ideology of mainland Chinese students. It is on this ground that Christianity is accepted while Buddhism is rejected by Chinese students. Thus, the importance of frame alignment is highlighted.