厦门外籍基督徒教师的宗教活动研究

A Study of Foreign Christian Teachers’ Religious Activities in Xiamen

中国改革开放以来,外籍教师的队伍不断壮大。外籍教师是一个通过对中国青年学生进行教育,进而对中国的社会发展产生独特影响的特殊群体,但迄今尚未引起学术界的足够关注。外籍教师中信仰基督教的人较多,他们带着自己的信仰来到中国,与一般移民不同的是,他们不仅要保持信仰,还想通过宗教信仰这一纽带在中国社会拓展空间。厦门外籍基督徒教师的宗教活动可分为两部分:一是外籍社群内部的宗教活动,活动的参与者还包括非教师的外籍人士;二是以宗教为桥梁发展与中国人和中国社会的关系的活动。他们在中国拓展信仰空间的活动将引发深层次的社会变迁。

Since the reform and opening-up policy adopted in China, the number of foreign teachers grows rapidly. By way of providing educations to the Chinese youth, foreign teachers are a unique group which impacts the Chinese socio-economic development. However, little attention has been given to the group. Since most of them are Christians, they not only take part in the religious activities, but also use these occasions as a way to extend their social relations in China. The religious activities performed by the foreign teachers in Xiamen can be divided into two parts： one is the religious activities among the group, also including the nonteachers; the other is the religious activities with Chinese people and societies, which will induce profound social transformation.