God Worshipping Society facts for kids

Quick facts for kids God Worshipping Society
Hong Xiuquan, the self-proclaimed younger brother of Jesus Christ who started the God Worshipping movement
Scripture	Bible
Region	China
Founder	Hong Xiuquan
Origin	1843 Guangdong, Qing dynasty
Defunct	1864

The God Worshipping Society (simplified Chinese: 拜上帝会; traditional Chinese: 拜上帝會; pinyin: Bài Shàngdì Huì) was a religious group in China. It was started by Hong Xiuquan. He mixed his own ideas about Christianity with traditional Chinese folk religion. This group believed in Shangdi, who they saw as the "Highest God".

Hong first learned about Christian ideas in 1836. He got some Christian pamphlets from an American missionary named Edwin Stevens. The pamphlets were called Good Words to Admonish the Age. Hong didn't read them carefully at first.

After failing his imperial examinations several times, Hong had some visions. In 1843, he read the pamphlets again with his cousin Feng Yunshan. Hong then believed the pamphlets helped him understand his visions. He concluded that he was "the son of God the Father, Shangdi," and "the younger brother of Jesus Christ." He felt he was chosen to get rid of "demon worship" in the world.

What Did the God Worshippers Believe?

The God Worshipping Society believed that people could become "sons and daughters of God." This is a Christian idea called Divine filiation. Hong Xiuquan did not say he was born supernaturally. He was seen as the second oldest son of Shangdi, after Jesus Christ.

Other leaders were also considered "brothers" of Jesus. Feng Yunshan was the third oldest, and Yang Xiuqing was the fourth. Wei Changhui was the fifth, and Xiao Chaogui was the sixth. Hong's son was called Jesus's nephew.

God and Jesus in Their Beliefs

Hong Xiuquan's writings showed he didn't believe Jesus was fully divine. For example, he wrote that God, not Jesus, performed miracles. He also wrote that Jesus was "God's Heir Apparent" but "is not God." Hong believed Jesus was a real son of God, not just a messenger.

Hong described God like old Chinese folk gods. He pictured God as an old man with a golden beard. God wore a black dragon robe and had a wife, the Heavenly Mother. Hong claimed God's children included Jesus, himself, and many "little sisters" in heaven. He believed Jesus, Yang Xiuqing, and he were born from God before the world began.

Hong also said that only God and Jesus could be called sheng (holy). He told his followers not to use this word for him. His own title had to be written below Jesus's title, "Crown Prince" "Heavenly Elder Brother." Both were written below "God the Heavenly Father and Great Shangdi."

How the Society Started

Protestant missionaries began working in China in the early 1800s. They were in places like Macao and Guangzhou. Their Chinese helpers were the first to convert to Christianity. These helpers faced many challenges, including arrests and fines.

However, these Chinese converts helped spread the Christian message. They printed thousands of their own pamphlets. Unlike Western missionaries, they could travel freely in China. They often visited imperial examination sites. This is where scholars competed for government jobs.

One of these Chinese pamphlets, Good Words to Admonish the Age, reached Hong Xiuquan. This happened in the mid-1830s. Hong first looked at it without much interest.

Building the God Worshipping Society

Feng Yunshan formed the God Worshipping Society in Guangxi in 1844. He traveled there to share Hong's ideas. In 1847, Hong became the leader of this group. One historian said this new faith "developed into a dynamic new Chinese religion."

Hong presented this religion as a return to an older Chinese faith in Shangdi. He believed this ancient faith had been changed by Confucianism. In 1844, Hong and Feng traveled to Sigu, Guiping county, Guangxi. They preached their version of Christianity there.

Hong returned home, but Feng stayed in the area. Feng traveled deeper into the Thistle Mountain region. He preached and baptized new followers. Feng named this group the "God Worshipping Society." Many poor Hakka people joined the group. They found safety and unity in the society.

A Unique Group

The God Worshipping Society was different from other Chinese secret groups. Its members adopted a new religious faith. They strongly rejected Chinese traditions that they felt were corrupted by the ruling Manchu government. They believed they were following the true, original Han Chinese tradition.

The Society was ready to fight from the start. This was because of conflicts between villages and between Hakka and non-Hakka people. Often, whole families or villages would join the group together. By August 1847, when Hong Xiuquan returned, there were over 2,000 God Worshippers. Most of them were farmers and miners.

How the Society Grew

When Hong returned, the God Worshipping Society became more rebellious. Hong began to call himself a king. He said the ruling Manchus and their supporters were "demons" that needed to be destroyed.

The God Worshippers treated everyone in their group like family. They created a shared treasury. They also required members to live a pure life.

New Leaders Emerge

In January 1848, Feng Yunshan was arrested and sent away. Hong Xiuquan soon left to find Feng. While they were gone, two new leaders stepped up: Yang Xiuqing and Xiao Chaogui.

Both claimed they could enter trances. In these trances, they said they spoke as members of the Trinity. Yang claimed to speak as God the Father (Shangdi). Xiao claimed to speak as Jesus Christ. When speaking as God or Jesus, they had more authority than even Hong Xiuquan. When Hong and Feng returned in 1849, they said Yang and Xiao's claims were real.

The Jintian Uprising

In February 1850, local soldiers passed through God Worshipping villages. They threatened to kill the followers. Because of this, Feng Yunshan called for the God Worshippers to openly revolt.

In July 1850, the leaders told their followers to gather in Jintian. They quickly gathered a force of 10,000 to 30,000 people. Most were Hakka, but some were Punti, Miao, or other local groups. The members came from many backgrounds. They included business people, farmers, and even some bandit groups.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

On Hong Xiuquan's birthday in 1851, the God Worshipping Society started the Jintian Uprising. This was a revolt against the ruling Qing dynasty. They announced the creation of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. This marked the start of the Taiping Rebellion. This rebellion is known as one of the biggest disasters of the 1800s. The God Worshippers who fought were seen as Protestant revolutionaries.

See also

• Millennarianism in colonial societies