Beyond China's Threat: The Contextual Theology of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

Abstract

Colonial relations have remained inspiring and vivid in the 21st century. They ave provided powerful morale for the Taiwan Independence Movement. In the quest for independent statehood, Taiwan can easily see China’s territorial ambition, economic invasion, and violation of liberalism. To regain selfrespect, the postcolonial elite could rely best and conveniently on the colonial
modernity brought by Japan. This perspective enabled the persistence of the image of inferior China. However, a particular string in the postcolonial relations did not assume Chinese inferiority. Rather, self-reflection on one’s practical conditions, which was independent from relations with China, inspired the effort to re-constitute Taiwan’s identity. This string of thought is the Presbyterian Church. Contextual theology resulted from the critical reflection and determination emerged to guide the Church’s subsequent approach to China. For the independence advocacy informed by colonial relations, the issue of human rights immediately suggests the image of
inferior China. However, for the Church, the issue connotes a mission in China that the Church should have cared about equally. This construction of a non-inferior/threatening China is how religion has brought to the intellectual perspective of Taiwan independence.