Alexander Chow (

simplified Chinese Simplification, Simplify, or Simplified may refer to: Mathematics Simplification is the process of replacing a mathematical expression by an equivalent one that is simpler (usually shorter), according to a well-founded ordering. Examples include: ...

: 曹荣锦;

traditional Chinese A tradition is a system of beliefs or behaviors (folk custom) passed down within a group of people or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examp ...

: 曹榮錦;

pinyin Hanyu Pinyin, or simply pinyin, officially the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet, is the most common romanization system for Standard Chinese. ''Hanyu'' () literally means 'Han Chinese, Han language'—that is, the Chinese language—while ''pinyin' ...

: ''Cáo Róngjǐn'') is a

Chinese American Chinese Americans are Americans of Chinese ancestry. Chinese Americans constitute a subgroup of East Asian Americans which also constitute a subgroup of Asian Americans. Many Chinese Americans have ancestors from mainland China, Hong Kong ...

theologian. He is Senior Lecturer in

Theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

and

World Christianity World Christianity or global Christianity has been defined both as a term that attempts to convey the global nature of the Christian religion and an academic field of study that encompasses analysis of the histories, practices, and discourses of ...

and co-director of

Centre for the Study of World Christianity The Centre for the Study of World Christianity (CSWC) is a research centre based in New College, the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh. It was founded in the University of Aberdeen by Andrew F. Walls as the Centre for the Study ...

at New College,

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

. His research interests include contextual theology,

Christianity in China Christianity has been present in China since the early medieval period, and became a significant presence in the country during the early modern era. The Church of the East appeared in China in the 7th century, during the Tang dynasty. Catholic C ...

Chinese philosophy Chinese philosophy (Simplified Chinese characters, simplified Chinese: 中国哲学; Traditional Chinese characters, traditional Chinese: 中國哲學) refers to the philosophical traditions that originated and developed within the historical ...

and religion,

public theology Public theology is the Christian engagement and dialogue within the church and especially with the larger society. It seeks the welfare of the state and a fair society for all by engaging issues of common interest to build the common good. This is ...

, and digital theology.

Biography

Born and raised in Southern

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, he completed a MA in

biblical studies Biblical studies is the academic application of a set of diverse disciplines to the study of the Bible, with ''Bible'' referring to the books of the canonical Hebrew Bible in mainstream Jewish usage and the Christian Bible including the can ...

and theology at

Fuller Theological Seminary Fuller Theological Seminary is an Evangelical seminary in Pasadena, California, with regional campuses in the western United States. It is egalitarian in nature. Fuller has a student body of approximately 2,300 students from 90 countries and ...

in 2006 and a MTh in theology at

Regent College Regent College is an interdenominational evangelical Christian College of Christian studies, and an affiliated college of the University of British Columbia, located next to the university's campus in the University Endowment Lands west of Va ...

in 2008. He finished his PhD in theology in 2012 at the

University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university in Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingham (founded in 1825 as ...

, supervised under Edmond Tang. He then spent a year in the School of Liberal Arts at

Renmin University of China The Renmin University of China (RUC) is a public university in Haidian, Beijing, China. The university is affiliated with the Ministry of Education, and co-funded by the Ministry of Education and the Beijing Municipal People's Government. The ...

as a postdoctoral fellow. He joined the University of Edinburgh as a Chancellor Fellow in September 2013. He is now senior lecturer in theology and world Christianity and co-director of Centre for the Study of World Christianity. He is an editor of the journal ''

Studies in World Christianity ''Studies in World Christianity'' is a peer-reviewed academic journal which examines the development of Christianity worldwide – known broadly as World Christianity. Its primary interests are in the rich diversity of Christianity in Africa, Asi ...

'' an
the Liu Institute Series in Chinese Christianities
of Notre Dame Press. He was also the chair o
Chinese Christianities
Program Unit at

American Academy of Religion The American Academy of Religion (AAR) is the world's largest association of scholarly method, scholars in the List of academic disciplines, field of religious studies and related topics. It is a nonprofit member association, serving as a profess ...

(2015-2022).

Writings

Edited works

*Chow, Alexander (Ed.). Chinese Heritage in British Christianity: More than Foreigners. London: SCM Press, 2025. *Chow, Alexander (Ed.).
Scottish Missions to China: Commemorating the Legacy of James Legge (1815-1897)
'' Leiden: Brill, 2022. ISBN 9789004509634 *Chow, Alexander and Easten Law (Eds). ''Ecclesial Diversity in Chinese Christianity.'' Cham:

Palgrave Macmillan Palgrave Macmillan is a British academic and trade publishing company headquartered in the London Borough of Camden. Its programme includes textbooks, journals, monographs, professional and reference works in print and online. It maintains offi ...

, 2021. *Chow, Alexander and Emma Wild-Wood (Eds). ''Ecumenism and Independency in World Christianity Historical Studies in Honour of Brian Stanley.'' Leiden:

Brill Brill may refer to: Places * Brielle (sometimes "Den Briel"), a town in the western Netherlands * Brill, Buckinghamshire, a village in England * Brill, Cornwall, a small village to the west of Constantine, Cornwall, UK * Brill, Wisconsin, an un ...

, 2020.

Monographs

*''Chinese Public Theology: Generational Shifts and Confucian Imagination in Chinese Christianity'' (

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the publishing house of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world. Its first book was printed in Oxford in 1478, with the Press officially granted the legal right to print books ...

, 2018). *''Theosis, Sino-Christian Theology and the Second Chinese Enlightenment'' (

, 2013 ; Chinese edition: Institute of Sino-Christian Studies, 2015)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Chow, Alexander Fuller Theological Seminary alumni Regent College alumni Alumni of the University of Birmingham Academic staff of Renmin University of China Academics of the University of Edinburgh World Christianity scholars American theologians Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Scholars of Chinese religions American people of Chinese descent