馬來西亞華人基督徒的主體性與身份認同：反思「華人教會」定義與指稱的適切性

Abstract

漢語學界對馬來西亞華人的相關研究已有相當程度的積澱，但往往陷於「海外華人」研究視野的窠臼，難以擺脫「核心－邊陲」的理解。另一方面，英語世界的學者慣以「離散群體」理解東南亞華人。筆者認為，無論是「海外華人」或者「離散群體」，都未有準確描繪馬來西亞華人的實況。以馬來西亞為場域的宗教研究也常反映前述現象，基督宗教的研究亦不例外。漢語學界對馬來西亞華人基督教的研究並不多見，但許多外部的教會機構卻將這些堂會稱為「華人教會」，以同質化的視野將之與歐美各地扮演「同鄉會」功能的「華人教會」放在同一範疇。本文指出馬來西亞「華人教會」是一種建基於「海外華人」或「離散群體」的理解。此外，也將從「反離散」以及「多中心」的角度定位馬來西亞華人基督徒的主體性和身份認同。

Research related to Malaysian Chinese communities produced in Chinese language academic circles has accumulated to a considerable level; however, such research usually falls into a stereotypical research perspective, regarding Malaysian Chinese as “overseas Chinese.” Such a perspective makes it difficult to break from the core-periphery understanding of Chinese communities. On the other hand, scholars writing in English have become accustomed to understanding the Chinese communities in Southeast Asia as diasporic communities. The author of this paper argues that, whether labeled as “overseas Chinese” or “diasporic communities,” both are inaccurate descriptions of the actual circumstances of ethnic Chinese in Malaysia. Religious studies research on Malaysia also often reflects the aforementioned phenomenon, and studies of Christianity there are no exception. Research on Malaysian Chinese Christians from Chinese-speaking academic circles is not at all common, but many international church organizations refer to Malaysian congregations of ethnic Chinese as “Chinese Churches” (Huaren jiaohui 華人教會). In effect, this homogenizing view places Malaysian Christian communities in the same category as “Chinese Churches” functioning as “native associations” (tongxiang hui 同鄉會) across Europe and the United States. This article indicates that Malaysia’s “Chinese Church” is an understanding based on conceptions of “overseas Chinese” and “diasporic communities.” Moreover, this article defines the subjectivity and identity of Malaysian Chinese Christians from “anti-diaspora” (fan lisan 反離散) and “polycentric” (duo zhongxin 多中心) perspectives.