Publisher's Synopsis
In the burgeoning field of Postcolonial studies, Kwok Pui-lan offers the first full-length theological treatment of this important perspective. Postcolonialism recognizes that most theology has been formed in dominant, imperial cultures (such as Europe and America) and that theology's task now must be a "decolonizing of the mind" that frees Christianity from the imperializing structures that have imprisoned us all. The author's experience as a Chinese Christian is key to her postcolonial understanding; she asks why Chinese women (such as her ancestors) became Christian over a century ago. Western missionaries wrote about the "uplifting" of these women into the gospel faith and Western civilization, but how did these women perceive what happened to them as they became Christian? Postcolonialism empowers an investigation of concepts such as "home" and "belonging," as well as ideas of borders and boundaries. Identity and hybridity are frequent topics for exploration. Post colonialism realizes that there are many centres and margins within the global world today ( and within global Christianity), and that perspectives differ amazingly from the various places where Christians live, express, and talk about their faith. In this book, Kwok Pui-lan explains her methodological basis for postcolonial theology, and then explores several specific topics, including Christology, pluralism, and creation.
