The Center of the World: Cosmology as a Barrier to Christianity's Diffusion into China

Keywords: Cultural diffusion, cosmology, Christianity, ethnocentrism, qualitative research
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

This research is designed to answer two main questions. Why was the diffusion of Christianity into China so difficult prior to the past half-century? And how and why has China changed in this regard so dramatically? Since China has historically been extremely resistant to non-Chinese ideas and has never adopted a formal religion, the rise of Christianity in modern China therefore suggests a new development is transpiring among the Chinese locals and elites. This indicates Chinese history could very well be entering uncharted territory, and this is important to understand. This research analyzes barriers to Christianity’s diffusion into China and suggests that a significant factor for the recent change is a shift in the Chinese cosmological understanding of themselves being at the center of the world.