A contextual theology without context: A study of the weaknesses of contemporary Sino-Christian Theology

Abstract

Since the second half of the 20th century, contextual theology as a Christian theological movement has flourished in many parts of the world. They all came into being as a response to the realistic predicament of people in a specific place or cultural context, to criticize in different extents the power and ideologies that lead to injustice and domination, and to facilitate liberative practices. In essence, Sino-Christian Theology should be categorized as contextual theology as well. However, due to complicated reasons, in the past twenty years there has not been, in the Sino-Christian theological circle, any serious theological movement which responded to the market economy reformation in Mainland China as well as the severe social problems originated from the former. This article, while pointing out this deficiency in the nature of Sino-Christian Theology as a contextual theology, aims to explore its origins in the humanistic characteristics of Sino-Christian Theology, and to elaborate the weaknesses of the current development of Sino-Christian Theology. © 2016, Logos and Pneuma Press. All rights reserved.