Chapter 1 Civil Societies and Christianities in a Diverse and Changing China
In: Citizens of Two Kingdoms: Civil Society and Christian Religion in Greater ChinaSearch for other papers by Richard Madsen in
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Abstract
Any assessment of the role of Christianity and Chinese civil society has to take into account the multiplicity of forms of Christianity and visions of civil society. The forms of Christianity differ not only by denomination but by local context. Visions of civil society are arrayed on a spectrum from liberal to corporatist. One condition for this diversity has been a porous government apparatus in which commands from the center have had difficulty making it to the grassroots and local officials have been able to modify policies in response to particular relationships and concrete circumstances. Xi Jinping has been trying to exert more central control and to suppress such diversity, but he probably will not succeed in homogenizing the culture. Meanwhile, Christianity’s thrust toward transcendence will always leave open the possibility of radical critique.