Evangelization, Religious Formation, and Indigenous Communities in China from the Late Sixteenth Century to the Eighteenth Century

Abstract

This chapter will provide a general account of the Roman Catholic missions from the late sixteenth century to the eighteenth century, taking into consideration both Roman Catholic missionaries, especially the Jesuits, and indigenous converts. It will also include an overview of the formation of the Chinese Christian communities and their main features. Initially, after an historiographical overview and an historical reconstruction, it will analyze the process of evangelization adopted by different Roman Catholic denominations in China, especially the Society of Jesus, and their divergent ideas on “accommodation” and “acculturation.” Subsequently, it will analyze the religious formations of those groups, examining their initial theological background. Finally, it will describe not only the difficulties and challenges but also the acceptance of ritual practices, customs, and moral teachings within Chinese Christian communities. In narrating these main aspects, we will take into consideration testimonies from missionaries in China, Chinese Christian converts, and their main adversaries. Given the specific scope of this overview, the analysis will be limited to only a few relevant case studies which provide a general idea of evangelization, religious formation, and the establishment of indigenous communities.