Author: XU Junlin, Lecturer at School of Marxism, Shanghai University.
Abstract:
Influenced by the labor movements and socialist movements at home and abroad during the first World War and the post-war period, liberal Christians in China engaged in wide-ranging discussions on capitalism during the May Fourth Period. Their views on capitalism mainly drew on Anti-capitalism thought among the Western churches in the wake of the First World War. Combining this with the reality of the Chinese situation, they constructed an essentially negative image of capitalism and failed to face up practically to the positive values of capitalism. Their primary aim was to respond to the criticism of the alliance between Christianity and capitalism from the Anti-Christianity movement and defend Christianity by disentangling its relationship with capitalism. Their second was to discuss how to establish an ideal China, with the core question of whether to establish a new China with western capitalism as its model. Finally, by rethinking the relationship between Christianity and capitalism, they could reflect on the shortcomings of present-day Christianity to rebuild a reasoned Christian identity, highlight the strengths and value of Christianity for reforming capitalism and rebuilding an ideal China, and maintain and enhance the religious identity of Christianity. In short, capitalism had become a way for liberal Christians to reconstruct their national, political, and religious identities.
Keywords:
May Forth Period, Christian, capitalism, identity
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