Martin Giles Palmer (born 14 October 1953) is a theologian, Sinologist, author and international specialist on all major faiths and religious traditions and cultures.
His 2001 book The Jesus Sutras, a translation of the Jingjiao Documents, gives a popular and controversial interpretation of early Chinese Christianity as ‘syncretistic’.
Wilmshurst also states that "As the Sian [Xi'an] Tablet inscription demonstrates, they [the Nestorians in China] were orthodox Christians who pointedly distinguished themselves from both the Taoists and the Buddhists.
[4] James Morris of the University of St. Andrews wrote that while "Palmer has done wonders in popularizing the subject matter [of medieval Christianity in China] and that his "assertion that Taoism had an effect on Táng-period Christian texts is no doubt useful" he has also criticised Palmer for having "an uncanny ability to draw upon early 20th-century scholarship as if it were factual."
Morris also stated that Palmer's conclusion that the Daqin Pagoda was of Christian origin is inconclusive and premature until more research is conducted.