Overseas Chinese Christians in Contemporary China

Religion, Mobility, and Belonging

Sin Wen Lau

154 pages  |  ~4 hrs

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Overseas Chinese Christians in Contemporary China

Religion, Mobility, and Belonging

By Sin Wen Lau

In an era of rapid globalization and China's rising influence, a fascinating spiritual journey unfolds among overseas Chinese Christians who have chosen to make their home in Shanghai. This compelling ethnographic study reveals how faith becomes a powerful lens through which educated, financially secure Chinese diaspora members navigate their complex relationship with their ancestral homeland.

Rather than fitting neatly into conventional categories of bridge-builders or profit-driven entrepreneurs, these Christian business professionals demonstrate a more nuanced approach to identity and belonging. Their stories illuminate how religious conviction shapes their long-term vision for life in contemporary China, offering them tools to process both aspirations and anxieties as they establish roots in a rapidly transforming society.

Through careful observation and analysis, this work uncovers the distinctive ways these overseas Chinese Christians integrate their spiritual beliefs with their cultural heritage and professional ambitions. Their experiences challenge existing assumptions about diaspora communities, revealing how faith serves as both anchor and compass in navigating questions of identity, obligation, and purpose.

For readers interested in the intersection of spirituality, cultural identity, and global mobility, this study provides valuable insights into how religious practice can offer meaning and direction amid the complexities of modern transnational life. It demonstrates how personal faith becomes a practical resource for creating belonging across cultural and geographical boundaries.

What You'll Discover

  • Explore Ethnic identity
  • Explore Christians
  • Explore Religious aspects
  • Explore Asia, history
  • Understand psychological principles
  • Explore Social conditions
  • Explore Chinese
  • Explore Christianity

Topics

Ethnic identity Christians Religious aspects Asia, history Identity (Psychology) Social conditions Chinese Christianity Ethnic relations Economic aspects Noncitizens Aliens

Details

Published
2020
Publisher
BRILL
ISBN-13
9789004438552
ISBN-10
9004438556
Pages
154
Language
EN