The Spiritual Pursuit in Lin Yutang’s Literary Works: A Cross-Cultural Interpretation and Empirical Study in the Context of Christian New Evangelization

The spiritual has always been an important component in literary expression and religious experience, particularly in the context of cross-cultural exchange. Although Lin Yutang’s literary creation has been well received, the relationship between his spiritual thoughts and Christian new evangelization is less commonly mentioned at present, especially from an empirical point of view. This study addresses this gap, contributing to the practice of contextualization in mission work by providing a cross-cultural perspective on Lin Yutang’s creative works related to spiritual pursuit and their possible implications for Christian mission work. Herein, 45 representative literary texts were examined, employing a mixed methods analysis of spiritual motifs, cultural symbols, and audience reception among a range of different populations. Emphasized in the coding were self-transcendence, cultural integration, religious symbolism, and narrative as a strategy for creating spiritual involvement. This article reveals that Lin’s Christian writings reflect a mediating spiritual journey, illustrated by Christian motifs of self-transcendence and holiness. Through the integration of Eastern and Western spiritualities, his works offer helpful resources for the acculturation of the Gospel in mission activities. Readers from different cultural backgrounds have also claimed that their spiritual identification and openness to Christian messages improved after reading Lin’s stories. In this sense, the mediating effect of literature on spirituality contributes to new forms of proclamation that are more in line with the current times. In summary, this research brings Lin Yutang’s works into prominence as an important cultural bridge that enhances Christian new evangelization theories and practices, providing clues for culturally conscious evangelization in a globalized era.