This book offers a unique historical documentation of the development of the ambitious religious entrepreneurism by leaders of the Early Rain church (and later Western China Presbytery leadership), in an effort to gain social influence in China through local institution-building and global public image management.
This book offers a unique historical documentation of the development of the ambitious religious entrepreneurism by leaders of the Early Rain church (and later Western China Presbytery leadership), in an effort to gain social influence in China through local institution-building and global public image management. It unravels the social processes of how this Christian community with a public image of defending religious freedom in China was undermined by an internal loss of moral authority.
Based on publicly available texts from Chinese social media that aren't readily available in the West as well as in-depth interviews, it is framed by existing scholarship in social theories of the public sphere, charismatic domination in social transition, and the role of power in organizational behaviour. These churches' stories show how Christianity, which has long been politically marginalized in communist China, has not only adapted and challenged the socio-political status quo, but how it was also ironically shaped by the political culture.
This is an insightful and critical ethnographic study of one of modern China's most famous house churches. As such, it will be of great interest to scholars of Religion in China as well as those working in Religious Studies, Asian studies, Chinese studies, and Mission Studies more generally.
This book provides a carefully researched examination of the complex world of Chinese unregistered Christian churches (house churches). With a keen eye for both Chinese market development and Chinese-western relationships, both charismatic leadership and rapid urbanization, it opens a treasure chest of insight on the social, religious, political, economic, and diplomatic realities of recent Chinese history.
Mark Noll, McAnaney Professor of History Emeritus, University of Notre Dame
This excellent study tells the story of the dramatic rise and fall of an urban house church community in China. Li Ma creatively integrates social theory with rich ethnography. She also employs interdisciplinary lenses in a very skillful manner. I recommend anyone in China studies and/or institutional research to read this fine book.
Richard Swedberg, Professor of Sociology, Cornell University, USA
Christians in the West often have a highly romanticized view of the "underground" churches in mainland China. We lack trustworthy detailed accounts of what actually goes on in local contexts where there are not only wonderful displays of deep commitments to the Gospel, but also power struggles, competing theological influences, and the manipulation of local congregants by ambitious church leaders. Li Ma's well-researched and highly readable narrative of? the Early Rain community is? splendid gift to all of us who want to be better informed about the dynamics of Christianity in present-day China.
Richard Mouw, President Emeritus and Professor of Faith and Public Life, Fuller Theological Seminary
