On Jesus Family In Tai An

Jesus Family in Taian is a religious organization founded in Chinese social and cultural environment after the Christianity was invited into China. Although it observes the Christianity, it preserves the features of Chinese native culture. This essay deals with the beginning, developing, managing and disassembling of this organization.This thesis covers four chapters. The first chapter deals with the causes of the appearance of Jesus Family from 5 aspects. The first aspect, we describe the developing progress of three religious groups in Taian and their social influence, which set a foundation for the formation of Jesus Family. The second aspect, we describe the falling of the traditional religion and the rising of civil religion in Taian. Various religious activities of the civilian made it easier for the local people to accept the similar religion. The third aspect, we describe the survival crisis caused by natural disasters and wars. We also analyse the members of Jesus Family and their purposes of joining in it, which indicates the impact of changes of social political situation on the religion and the religious organization. The fourth aspect, We introduce Jing Dianying and the foundation Jesus Family.We mainly discuss the transition of how Jing Dianying, from a Chinese with long education of Confucius, to a man converted to the Christianity faith and setting up the church all by himself. The last aspect, the church orphanage set a good example for Jing Dianying to create Jesus Family with a new religious method and to make confidence for him creating religious association.The second chapter deals with 5 historic periods of Jesus Family's development. We mainly discuss the social situation changes in developing speed, scale and the areas of Jesus Family in Mazhuang, Taian and other areas in China. Indicating the close relationship of the interaction between the society and Jesus Family's development, prosperity and disassembly. The third chapter deals with the organization and management of Jesus Family from 4 aspects. First aspect is about its teaching, forms and religious life. Second one is about 4 unique forms of the organization of Jesus Family:"god–centered"big family, intensive collective economy, the living of equalitarian and a mini society with complete structure.Third one is about the analysis of the managing system: system of patriarch, which falls into 3 aspects- the right of the patriarch, position of the members and the moral relationship. Fourth one is about its poetic missionizing method. The fourth chapter deals with the general comment on Jesus Family and the causes of its disassembly. The disassembly was caused by the changes of social environment and the crisis inside Jesus Family.Jesus Family in Mazhuang, Taian, arising in poverty, developing in wars, attracted thousands of followers with its unique religious life and living of equalitarian. It had branches in all China, the forms of organization being quite unique. Once the society became stable, the work and the living of the civilian was brought to a normal orbit, the crisis and conflict appeared inevitably. Therefore, Jesus Family in Taian disassembled after 31 year's history with the combination of both inside and outside causes.