陳垣（1880-1971）是中國宗教史研究的奠基人，其本人有基督教信仰，同時他又是近代學術史上舉足輕重的典範性人物，因此他對於基督教和中國文化的關係問題所持的見解值得探析。陳垣的基督教史研究具有一種比較的視野。他的宗教史研究顯示，外來宗教能否成功地與中國文化相融合，是決定這種宗教能否深入社會並傳之久遠的關鍵因素，這一現象可以稱為外來宗教的華化。基督教若要實現中國化也需要循此軌轍。陳垣並未明確提出基督教華化的説法，但是他在多種著作中反復申明此意，較長時段多重文本的互證可以確切地識別出陳垣的基督教華化思想。事實上，基督教華化思想也代表了晚清民國時期基督教界有識之士的共識。陳垣之所以沒有明確提出基督教華化的説法，與當時複雜的政治背景和社會背景不無關係，同時與陳垣的史學思想和著史風格也有一定的關聯。

This article aims to explore and reveal the thought of Chen Yuan 陳垣 (1880-1971) on the Sinicization of Christianity. Chen Yuan founded the modern paradigm for Chinese studies on the history of religion; meanwhile, Chen was also once a follower of Christianity, and therefore, his ideas on the relationship between Chinese culture and Christianity are undoubtedly significant. Chen Yuan’s distinctive religious studies on the introduction of foreign religions into ancient Chinese history demonstrate that Sinicization was key for the acculturation of foreign religions by providing Christianity with vital historical experience. It must be noted that Chen Yuan never put forth the direct statement “the Sinicization of Christianity”; however, his thoughts on the matter can be clearly discerned in his many articles and monographs. The complex political and social contexts of the time, as well as Chen Yuan’s thought on historiography and historical writing style, may account for this paradoxical phenomenon. Finally, it must be said that “the Sinicization of Christianity” represented the mainstream belief among Chinese Christian elites during his era.