Seeking Meaning Overseas: Chinese International Scholars' Conversions to Christianity in the U.S.

• In Event: 4367 - Section on Asia and Asian America Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: 8. Migration, International and Internal

Abstract

Despite the atheist background they were born and raised in, the number of Chinese international scholars who chose to convert to Christianity in the U.S. has increased profoundly in recent years. This paper aims to investigate the reason behind the big number of conversions and what it means for overseas Chinese scholars to convert to Christianity in a foreign country. The paper is based on three types of qualitative data collected between 2013 and 2015: 23 ethnographic interviews conducted with Chinese international scholars who converted, or plan to convert to Christianity in the U.S., a 4-month of participant observation in a Chinese fellowship under an American evangelical church with 16 visits in total; and a content analysis of a magazine in which Chinese international scholars tell their conversion stories. Because of the language and cultural barrier, Chinese international scholars face various types of challenges and uncertainties in their studies, work and intimate relationships in the U.S. During the difficult time, Christianity, as a comprehensive meaning system, not only fills the void caused by a lack of meaning in life but also provides an interpretive scheme to help them decipher the difficult situations, ease anxiety and bring in peace. On many levels, Christianity brings salvation to Chinese international scholars in both spiritual and emotional ways. The findings are consistent with the symbolic meaning model that emphasizes the explanatory power of religions. It also points out that Christianity serves as a tool not only to help people interpret their experiences differently but also to manage their emotions and change how they feel about their life situations.

Authors

• Fangheyue Ma, University of South Florida

• Hongming Qiao, Mr.