The growth of pentecostalism in French Polynesia: a Hakka history ; migration, cultural identity and Christianity

While Pentecostalism exists today in French Polynesia, as in all the South Pacific States, it has followed an unusual path there, taking root initially (during the 1960s) within the Hakka Chinese immigrant community. Long perceived by the historic Protestant Church as "Chinese-style Protestanti...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Fer, Yannick 1969- (Author)
Format: Print Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: CEFC 2005
In: China perspectives
Year: 2005, Issue: 57, Pages: 50-57
Further subjects:B Religion
B Christianity
B Hakka
B Ethnic group
B French Polynesia
B Pluralistic society
B International migration
B Development
B Cultural identity
B Society
B Chinese people
B French Polynesia Auslandschinesen Hakka Volksgruppe / Ethnische Bevölkerungsgruppe International migration Religion Christianity Religious movement Cultural identity Pluralistic society Gesellschaftliche Prozesse
B Religious movement
Description
Summary:While Pentecostalism exists today in French Polynesia, as in all the South Pacific States, it has followed an unusual path there, taking root initially (during the 1960s) within the Hakka Chinese immigrant community. Long perceived by the historic Protestant Church as "Chinese-style Protestantism", it initially gave birth to several Hakka Churches, each of which combined cultural identity, integration into Polynesian society and adherence to Christianity in different ways. However, after a series of secessions, a significant number of Hakka converts and their children are to be found in a transcultural Church, the Assemblies of God of French Polynesia. The intersecting histories of Pentecostalism and of the Hakka community in French Polynesia thus bear witness, in an exemplary fashion, to the gradual construction of a plural society (both multicultural and multi-confessional), which is in tension with the adherence of (almost) all the population to Christianity, as well as with individual cultural identities. (China Perspect/DÜI)
ISSN:2070-3449
Contains:In: China perspectives