Examining Chinese Christianity in America

February 14, 2000

University Park, Pa. --- Christianity has become the most practiced religion among the Chinese in America. But little solid research exists on Chinese Christians and their churches. A new Penn State Press book "Chinese Christians in America: Conversion, Assimilation, and Adhesive Identities," is the first to explore the subject from the inside, revealing how Chinese construct and reconstruct their identity - as Christians, Americans, and Chinese in local congregations amid the radical pluralism of the late 20th century.

Today there are more than 1,000 Chinese churches in the United States, most of them Protestant evangelical congregations, bringing together diasporic Chinese from diverse origins - Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, and Southeast Asian countries. Author Fenggang Yang finds that despite the many tensions and conflicts that exist within these congregations, most individuals find ways to integrate creatively their evangelical Christian beliefs with traditional Chinese (mostly Confucian) values. The church becomes a place where they can selectively assimilate into American society while simultaneously preserving Chinese values and culture.

Yang, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Southern Maine, brings to this study unique experience as both participant and observer. Born in Mainland China, he is a sociologist who converted to Christianity after coming to the United States. The heart of this book is an ethnographic study of a representative Chinese church, located in Washington, D.C., where he became a member.

Throughout the book, Yang draws upon interviews with members of this congregation while making comparisons with other churches throughout the United States.

"Chinese Christians in America: Conversion, Assimilation, and Adhesive Identities" is $50 for cloth edition, $18.95 for paper edition. For ordering information, contact the Penn State University Press at 814-865-1327; Toll Free Order: 800-326-9180; or at www.psu.edu/psupress/ on the Internet.

Established in 1956, Penn State Press is a university press specializing in art history, Black studies, general interest, history, literary studies, philosophy, political science, religion, regional studies, sociology, and women's studies

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Media Contact:

Amy Neil ??814-865-1327