Oxford University Press China and the True Jesus: Charisma and Organization in a Chinese Christian Church

Review Reading this book exposed me to another facet of how the gospel has impacted Chinese society and history. Some of the experiences recorded in this book are instructive for current challenges facing Christian churches, leaders, and believers in China. Any reader interested in Chinese church history of the last 100 years will find this book an interesting and enlightening addition to their understanding of the complexity and varied streams of God's work in China. ― Peter Bryant, ChinaSourceFar from being a dry, institutional history, China and the True Jesus is a tour de force of scholarship. Inouye has resisted the unfortunate trend of quick summaries and instead offers a sprightly written, wide-ranging account. She surveys the academic debates, unearths and translates rare primary source materials, and captures the feel of the miraculous worlds of believers. While she takes dreams and visions seriously, she helps us understand their significance by carefully framing the supernatural within history. China and the True Jesus is recommended not only for those interested in China but for anyone looking for a compelling story of how religions are born and survive. ― Colleen McDannell, Church HistoryMelissa Inouye has written a beautiful book: rich in historical particularity about Wei Enbo and the True Jesus Church, analytically sophisticated in conceptual framings, and handsomely woven into the tapestry of Chinese Christianity. In a work which has been skillfully transformed from a PhD dissertation into a monograph, Inouye offers junior and senior scholars alike an exemplar in the craft of writing, which is so lacking in the academic guild. This book is an important and groundbreaking read for those who wish to learn more about the twentieth- and twenty-first-century course of Chinese Christianity and, indeed, for students and scholars of new religious movements and world Christianity. ― Alexander Chow, Review of Religion and Chinese SocietyA major contribution to the field of Chinese Christianity and will be of interest to anthropologists of religion, scholars of world Christianity and new religious movements, as well as those who specialise in researching religion in Chinese contexts. ― Journal of Asia Pacific AnthropologyChina and the True Jesus is one of the most exciting and original recent contributions to the history of Christianity in China. Boldly researched, conceptually ambitious, and elegantly written, Inouye's book makes a strong case that the True Jesus Church, rather than a fringe religious group, intersects with and opens up vistas into central questions in Chinese history. Almost every page sparkles with analytical insight that will surprise both specialists and nonspecialists in the history of Christianity in China. This provocative and stimulating book deserves to be widely read; it will be of interest to historians of modern China, scholars of religion, and those interested in a broad range of theoretical issues, including questions about the intersection of religion and civil society. ― Albert M. Wu, American University of Paris, The Journal of Asian StudiesFor those who love learning about religion and history, this book is for you. It's about the history of Christianity in China. . .. One thing I found especially interesting (because it's similar to Joseph Smith's first vision) was that there were others who had visions of God and Jesus. One was a king name Hong Xiuquan who had a vision in 1837 . . . Not only did he see God and Jesus, but Heavenly Mother appeared in his vision as well. . . . I liked this because it reminds us that God speaks to people of all cultures and religions. . . . These are just a few of the various fascinating stories found in this book, and I'm very pleased that many of the stories are about women . . . If you love learning about how people shaped history, you will definitely enjoy this book. ― Dani Addante, Exponent II blogThis book is essential reading for any scholar