ABSTRACT
Beginning in 1978, the spiritual and religious life of China has shown a strong and diverse awakening due, in large part, to the weakening ideological and organizational control of the CCP. Chinese religious figures both within the officially legitimate Church as well as in the unofficial congregations are apprehensive about groups that draw away their followers with a more emotional and tightly organized concept of Protestantism. This chapter focuses on the concept of Jesus Christ as an essential element of the groups’ Christian point of reference. Most of the respective founders and leaders of Chinese religious groups are familiar with the teachings of Christianity. Spiritual healing is a central characteristic of several groups’ teachings: illness is said to be the result of possession by a bad spirit or demon, or the result of sinful behavior.
