Why Theologians Aren’t as Excited About Chinese Christianity’s Growth as Sociologists

“Problems occur when sociologists begin to go beyond empirical and scientific studies of Christianity and draw theological conclusions using a sociological approach.” - C.Today

Discussion

Some good points in the article but it’s really not clashing perspectives of the academic disciplines of theology vs. sociology that is important here. It’s the question of what’s real Christianity and growth of real believers vs. cultural trends, imitations, and superficial assimilations. What I mean by the latter is when Christianity becomes cool in a culture. In the Roman world, bits and pieces of the faith spread widely—often syncretistically with pagan beliefs. True faith in the gospel spread also, but not nearly as much. It’s hard to tell what Constantine, for example, really believed, but there isn’t much evidence that his understanding of Christianity went very deep.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.