A Theological Reflection On Suffering: Catholics in the People's Republic of China (1949 - 2013)

摘要

Using both Chinese cultural and biblical-theological perspectives, this dissertation develops a theology of suffering within the context of the Chinese Catholic Church by exploring how two generations of Chinese Catholics (ages 60-80 and 30-50) have suffered since 1949 for their faith practice from severe religious policies and unfair treatment by the Chinese government. To that end, this study investigates by means of a written survey and ethnographic interviews the actual physical and mental suffering of select members of the Catholic Church in China in the face of the repressive Communist political and religious policies. Then, using the theological method of Evelyn and James Whitehead, it links this suffering with Jesus Christ, particularly in terms of the eschatological dimension.