Introduction

The Graduate School of Religion at CYCU has focused on the studies of the Christian religion since its establishment in 2000. The concentration in Christian religion must not be regarded as a monopoly over other religions, but as a unique feature of our university. It has also helped to enhance the interaction between the Western and Sino-Christian scholarship. We are convinced that, as part of the histories of global culture, human thoughts and the Church, the Christian religion is not only a religion but also a great human arena in relation to philosophy, politics, art, and other related fields.

The diversity of ideas in modern society signifies the fact that the research of the Christian religion in most universities is considered as a part of general education courses. Owing to this fact, we have the obligation to open dialogues with scholars of Sinology, the humanities and social sciences. However, we must know our own point d’appui and be equipped with the capacity for dialogue before starting the actual dialogue. This is the very aims that we have devoted ourselves to in our School.

The Graduate School of Religion has earned a reputation for setting a high standard in both teaching and research. The faculty has endeavored to develop the study of the Christian religion in two ways: (1) to perpetuate the Christian tradition as our religious heritage; (2) to deepen and broaden Christianity as a cultural theory in the humanities and social sciences. This twofold endeavor is meant to transform Christianity into a source of thought for contemporary Sino-society, so that the “studies of the Christian religion” can become an official department in the Chinese speaking world, and also a field which cannot be overlooked.