The Spread and Development of Christianity in Rural China after the Reform and Opening Up—A Case Study of the Aihua Church in Luohe Town

Abstract. This article summarizes and analyzes the opportunities for the emergence of the Aihua Church in Luohe Town: it mainly stems from the internal historical development needs and the promotion of external environmental factors. Then it analyzes the specific current situation of Aihua Church believers, and at last Aihua Church’s integration function is analyzed and conclusions are drawn. In terms of research methods, questionnaire surveys and interviews based on questionnaires are mainly used; in terms of theoretical explanation, Emile Durkheim and his theory of “collective appearance” puts forward the perspectives of collective life in rural churches and rural communities. Close contact has played a vital role, and several criticisms and amendments made by Stephan Feuchtwang in following Durkheim's theory to study Chinese folk religions have also been adopted by us. This article will combine theory with examples of rural church in Luohe community to explore the structural and functional significance of rural religions in society.

Keywords: Rural religion, Christianity, reform and opening up, Luohe Town, development status

For citation: Тао Jinghong. The Spread and Development of Christianity in Rural China after the Reform and Opening Up—A Case Study of the Aihua Church in Luohe Town. Modern oriental studies. 2022, No.1. P. (in Chinese) https://doi.org/10.24412/2686-9675-1-2022-36-47