Past Lectures
The Wind Blows Where It Wishes, and Each Bears Its Proper Form (像)
Professor Xutong Qu, Associate Professor at the Department of Philosophy of Tsinghua University, delivered the second lecture in the series for the 2025-2026 academic year on Tuesday 7 October 2025.
Abstract: This paper employs the Chinese concept of form (像) as a central framework for a preliminary yet multifaceted theological reflection on the emerging phenomena of re-denominization in contemporary Chinese Christianity. It explores how denominations or confessions and the broader process of "denominization" become theologically possible —rooted in both divine gracious action and human contextual response in its proper form. The paper examines how specific denominational forms are realized across three key dimensions: institutional, historical, and doctrinal. Where appropriate, insights from historical studies and field research on Chinese Christianity are also included.
Worlding Chinese Christianities
Dr Alexander Chow, Senior Lecturer in Theology and World Christianity at the School of Divinity of the University of Edinburgh, delivered the inaugural lecture at the Centre's launch event on Thursday 2 October 2025.
Abstract: This paper attempts to challenge the China-centred study of Chinese Christianities, by putting it in conversation with the field of World Christianity. It highlights a tension within World Christianity between (a) the need to decenter Euro-American history and thinking about Christianity and to prioritise expressions of Christianity rooted in majority world contexts and (b) the need to speak to the broader implications of Christianity as a worldwide religion. In contrast, the field of Chinese Christianities has prioritised the former, with a tendency to focus on Mainland China, with very few attempts to engage the latter, the worldwide phenomena. To work towards worlding Chinese Christianities, this paper offers an initial attempt by offering two themes which can be considered as part of a worldwide understanding of Chinese Christianities: empire-building and a Confucian imagination.