Conversion to Christianity of Chinese international students in the United States

• In Event: 4367 - Section on Asia and Asian America Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: 5. International Students from Asia in the U.S.

Abstract

Drawing on participatory observation and interviews in a Chinese Christian church at a northeastern American city, this article endeavors to explain the conversion to Christianity of Chinese international students in the U.S. My findings reveal that the conversion to Christianity of Chinese international students is a process of identity construction of youngsters in social interaction, which includes not only rebuilding collectivistic social relations in foreign country, but searching for life meaning partly influenced by the their individualistic experience in home country. The social interaction model of conversion provides a possible explanation for specific demographic groups, proposing that the specific social interaction and life ways of migrants, not the general political and social environment in the exporting or importing country, are more significant in discussing the religious choices in the context when global cultural communication has become more frequent.

Author

• Ning Zhan, Syracuse University