边缘与中心——中国基督教史研究的理论视角和研究方法

Peripheries and Centers:A Theoretical Perspective and Research Method for Historical Studies of Chinese Christianity

在中国宗教史研究领域内,已有学者有意识地将“边缘与中心”当作一种理论视角和研究方法,考察和研究宗教与中国思想—文化体系之间多元、多层次、多维度的复杂互动关系。①本文试图在中国基督教史研究领域内倡导这一理论视角和研究方法,期待不同学科学者从各自学科(文学、历史学、宗教学、社会学、人类学、政治学等)角度出发.

Based on an appreciative and critical review of current scholarship in the research field of historical studies of Chinese Christianity,this paper attempts to understand and interpret“peripheries and centers”as a possible theoretical perspective and research method for field.In this preliminary understanding and interpretation,the author deliberately place the word“peripheries”before the word“centers”to emphasize that the constructive relationship between the two precedes the structural one.With this emphasis,the paper wants to advocate multi-disciplinary research into the historical studies of Chinese Christianity that pays attention to the communication and interaction between“peripheries”and“centers”as it focuses on specific historical figures,phenomena,events,and themes.