传教士的角色紧张与中美文化交流

The Tension of Missionary's Role and Sino-America Cultural Intercourse

美国新教传教士来华进行传教活动之初,为了克服中国社会的信仰阻力,乃援引了医疗、办学等手段以便广布福音。此时的传教活动,只是一个明显的借助手段,其真实的功用主要是为了吸引来自中国社会下层的信徒,后来传教事业的发展也证明这一手段的效用。但很有意味的是,这种传教手段与其传教事业本身的张力却也日渐凸显。对于传教士而言,其职业身份存在着某种角色上的紧张,在“职业传教士”与“文化传播者”之间日渐出现着明显的冲突,正是这种紧张与冲突逐渐导引着其传教手段与其宗教目的发生了背离,这种背离为中美文化交流提供了机会。

At the first stage, the western missionary adopted cultural methods as bait in order to attract Chinese Christian. At this stage, the cultural intercourse only was an artifice. And certain numbers of Chinese Christian took part in the western religion organization, and because they could be helped by the missionary. To our surprise, there was tension between the missionary＇s roles,＂professional＂ and ＂cultural＂. The tension led their cultural depart from religion activity.