《太平天國神學：基督教在中國的本土化(1843–64)》一書以「全球本土化」為理論框架，重新審視太平天國文獻中的神學思想。本文聚焦於該書中的三個核心議題。第一，該書認為，太平天國運動的緣起若僅僅著眼於社會、經濟或種族的視角，則無法作出全面的解釋。來自基督教的神學思想也對該運動的產生和發展具有推動作用。其中尤為重要的是以中文概念「上帝」為中心的世界救贖異象。第二，過往對太平天國並非基督教的定性，在該書看來根源於本質主義的迷思。太平天國對上帝的看法是一種排他性很強的獨一神論。耶穌儘管是天父的親生兒子，也決不能與天父處於同一地位；同時，作為上帝第二個兒子的洪秀全在地位上也低於上帝與耶穌。該書認為，這樣的神學可以從儒家五倫的角度得以解釋，並且應當屬於多元基督教傳統的一部分。第三，太平天國儘管在正式場合譴責儒家，但實際上卻透過儒家的倫理框架來傳遞基督教思想，其中包括了對天國、人性與社會秩序的理解。該書由此指出，基督教與儒家這兩種文化並非必然地相互衝突，而是可以相互調和。

Taking “Glocalization” as a theoretical framework, Taiping Theology: The Localization of Christianity in China, 1843–64 re-examines the theology in the literature of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. This review article focuses on three key issues in this monograph. First, this book argues that the birth of the Taiping movement cannot be fully explained only from the social, economic, or ethnic perspectives. Theologies originating from Christianity also contribute to the beginning and development of this movement. One particularly significant element, among others, concerns the vision of world salvation emphasizing the central status of “Shangdi” (one version of the Chinese translation of “God”). Second, previous studies’ identification of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom as non-Christian is rooted, the book maintains, on the myth of essentialism. Taiping’s view on God belongs to a strongly exclusivistic monotheism. Jesus, though himself the natural son of God, is said to be prohibited from owning the same status as God; the status of Hong Xiuquan, meanwhile, is seen to be lower than both God and Jesus. This kind of theology can be understood partly from the five cardinal relationships of Confucianism, the book suggests, and is supposed to belong to part of the pluralistic Christian traditions. Third, Taiping, although denouncing Confucianism officially, in actual fact communicates Christian thoughts—such as the views on the kingdom of heaven, human nature, and social order—via the ethically Confucian framework. Instead of conflicting with each other, the book thus concludes, Christianity and Confucianism can be reconciled.