Christianity and the negotiation of citizenship in Hong Kong: an account of faith-based active citizenship

Abstract

ABSTRACT Cultural traditions, including religions, are central to understanding and practising citizenship. The complex relationships between religion and citizenship should be explored in depth. Both citizenship and Christianity were transplanted from the West to Hong Kong during the colonial era, and Christianity still occupies an important place in public life and civil society today. In the specific context of state – civil society, we discuss the development of citizenship and Christianity in Hong Kong and illustrate how some Christian organisations and leaders exercise their cultural agency in social activism through a wide range of social and political events. Their work creates a strong civic culture of Hong Kong Chinese Christians, advances citizenship and supports a vibrant civil society. By examining the roles of individual and collective agents in the formation and contextualisation of a Christian tradition, we develop a framework for faith-based active citizenship and expand the discussion of Chinese citizenship.