Caution: Society Is Closer Than It Appears
“Christians in China Must Replace Jesus With Pictures of [China President] Xi Jinping or Lose Social Services”1 This was the headline this week after the President of China announced a call to help lift rural impoverished Chinese out of their way of life. He wants them to begin putting their faith in the country rather than in Jesus. In a country influenced b
y both Confucius and Marxism, the people are called to more than patriotism but to social harmony. How do we understand this country with it’s collective thinking, where many give up of personal desire to facilitate the collective interest? It is a country that emphasizes hierarchy and harmony within the group. A major decision is made only when considering the implications to the wider collective.2
Craib is not a fan of Elliot’s books believing he brings confusion rather than clarity to his explanations. He claims Elliot‘s writing can be compared to the Biblical story of the tower of Babel where people could not understand each other because of pride. He states, “The more enthusiastically we try to build up one approach (whether it be Marxism, psychoanalysis, postmodernism or anything else) into a totalizing theory, the more likely we are to end up not being able to understand each other. It might be that what is most needed in social theory at the moment is modesty.” 3 I wonder if confusion in the world of social theory has more to due with the complexities of culture and our lack of understanding of them? Globalization makes studying societal norms a challenge. The influence from one culture to another is more significant today than ever.4
Whether reading Elliot’s description of Marxism’s freedom and constraint dichotomy, Fromm’s Theory of Self-hood, or Foucault Power Discipline,5 they all reminded me of some aspect of contemporary Chinese society. Jeffrey Prager states, “It is an age which externalizes the self and, in so doing, subdues subjectivity.”6 This is seen in countries like China where self or individualism is seen as it is related to the collective. The Chinese collectivist mindset creates a society that is supportive and protective while sacrificing the individual’s independence and subjectivity.
Social theorist Eric Fromm said, “What is so deceptive about the state of mind of the members of a society is the ‘consensual validation’ of their concepts. It is naively assumed that the fact that the majority of people share certain ideas or feelings proves the validity of these ideas and feelings. Nothing is further from the truth. Consensual validation as such has no bearing whatsoever on reason or mental health.”7 This could remind us of the motherly question that if your friends jumped off the cliff, would you do it as well? Collective thinking doesn’t mean not thinking, rather thinking of more than oneself and one’s happiness. This is not just validation of thoughts rather community focused actions.
Westerners often have difficulty grasping the structure of Chinese society. It seems so radically different from their own. Individuals are never encouraged by parents, teachers, bosses or leaders to define themselves as separate from society. Free thought is thought to be inherently destabilizing, it is a threat to order. Government, industry, even the courts serve the interests of the state. Success comes from recognition from family, your village, work unit or the government. “Self-expression is not equal to independence of thought. Chinese society has never celebrated the liberation of individual potential.”8
Geert Hofstede might not be a social theorist yet he describes the effects of a society’s culture on the values of its people and how these values relate to behavior. Culture effects every aspect of society. One of Hofstede’s six cultural dimensions is called individualism vs. collectivism. He says, “People are supposed to be loyal to the group to which they belong, and, in exchange, the group will defend their interests.”9One aspect of Chinese society that is pivotal in the discussion of individual or collectiveness is the word, “Guan Xi”. It literally means ‘interdependent relationship’. 10
“Guan Xi” permeates all relationships in China. In the community of Christ, this is expressed as loving one another. When the church gathers together for support and like-mindedness, there is strength. How do Chinese handle policy directives like the changing of the picture of Jesus to the president? There has been a strong resistance from groups of believers to any policy that seeks to control who and how they worship. Many times, these groups will publicly support the government while privately looking out for their own community. Understanding the complexities of how this relationship works, helps one navigate this society’s structure.“Undeniably, the global challenges we face demand global solutions”11 yet each of those problems are reflected in local communities we all live and work.
What social subtleties need to be known in each of our communities so we can effectively influence without unknowingly offending?
1“Christians in China Must Replace Jesus With Pictures of Xi Jinping or Lose Social Services”, Last modified November 14, 2017, accessed November 14, 2017, http://www.newsweek.com/china-christians-jesus-x-jinping-social-services-welfare-711090
2 “Global Cultural Dimensions”, Last modified December 30, 2016, accessed November 16, 2017 https://www.laowaicareer.com/blog/global-cultural-dimensions-collectivism-vs-individualism/
3Craib, Ian. “Slouching Towards Babel.” History of Human Sciences. 13. no.2 (2000): 116
4Elliott, Anthony, Bryan Turner, and Philip Smith. “Profiles in Contemporary Social Theory.” Thesis Eleven, 70 (2002): 124
5Elliott, Anthony. Contemporary Social Theory – Second Edition An Introduction. (Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2014), 37, 67,122
6Craib, Ian. “Slouching Towards Babel.” History of Human Sciences. 13. no.2 (2000): 112
7Elliott, Anthony. Contemporary Social Theory – Second Edition An Introduction. (Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2014), 69
8“American-Style Individualism in China? Looks Deceive,” Last modified May 2012. Accessed November 16, 2017 https://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-doctoroff/chinese-conformity-_b_1355122.html
9“Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions, Understanding Different Countries,” accessed November 16, 2017. https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_66.htm
10Qi, Xiaoying. “Globalized Knowledge Flows and Chinese Social Theory.” Routledge Studies in Social and Political Thought; 83.(New York: Routledge, 2014):50
11Elliott, Anthony. Contemporary Social Theory – Second Edition An Introduction. (Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2014), 385
About the Author
Greg
Greg has a wife and 3 children. He has lived and work in Asia for over 12 years. He is currently the Asia Director of Imanna Laboratories, which tests and inspects marine products seeking US Coast Guard certification. His company Is also involved in teaching and leadership development.15 responses to “Caution: Society Is Closer Than It Appears”
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Greg, I had read that article this morning! I’m interigued by the collective mindset. France is definitely more collective than the US, but completely individualistic when compared to China. And I appreciate your concluding question–it is a question that is pertinent to my project as well. At the same time; I find that no matter the culture, there are aspects of the Gospel that are just plain offensive. Do you have any concerns about over-contextualization or syncretism?
If we are dealing with young adults we try to be sensitive when clashes come between what parents want and what the Chinese young leader feels God wants them to do. Sometimes we have counseled to follow parents wishes and other times told them (nicely) to defy them. The concerns we usually have is not creating a fellowship leader that becomes like an emperor of a kingdom. Leaders are looked up to so much that this is a human temptation.
Hi Greg! You have a such a great global context! I learn so much from your experiences. This may sound un-American, but I am curious what pieces of the Chinese culture you experience as better than “how we do it here”? Of course, I see Americans as highly ethnocentric and if I am wrong or off base, please call me out!
I think every country is ethnocentric or has the potential to be. You may have heard China called “middle kingdom” because it can be translated as that. It can also be translated as “Center kingdom” implying it is the center of all things. Concerning your question of the areas of China I think that are done better than the west.. I think the communal aspect of the culture pushes people to look out for others, especially if you have made it part of an inner circle. Sometimes our independence hinders us from seeing other perspectives. (don’t get me wrong, there can be a manipulative side to communal thinking). That question alone could be a dissertation topic. 🙂
Hi Greg,
Wow! You have an amazing global perspective! The readings on globalization must have really hit home for you.
I bet you have been stretched in ways that I cannot imagine. I have to admit I have a too-solid Westerner view on the world. If I went to China and talked about social theory, they would probably respectfully throw me out?
Are you tired of being our cohort missionary representative (along with a few others)? I hope not, because I for one really appreciate your take. Well done Greg.
Jay you crack me up. People say to me from time to time, “I am glad you are over there, I couldn’t do it.” I usually respond,”I am glad God has placed you here (insert town name), I could live here.” We are all M’s (as we call it here) each fighting a culture that is not our own and proclaiming the kingdom of God. I just keep wondering when you all we get tired hearing about China :-).
I, for one, always look forward to the Chinese post of the week. So don’t shy away from bringing your post home to China, Greg!
I just called out to Karen in the other room and told her you posted on ‘guan xi’. As you know, Karen lived in China for two years before we were married, so she brought her experiences into our marriage, and we’ve often talked about guan xi.
Her understanding was that it was not as much “loving one another in community” but more manipulative, with a darker edge: “I do you a favour so you will later owe me a favour.”
Do you see a darker edge for guan xi?
I love talking about Guanxi. I am glad you included Karen in this discussion. I am not sure you are having the same problem as me but when I finished writing this blog it was 1700 words and the guanxi section was a very long paragraph explaining what each word meant. I decided that it distracted (not only me) from the main point. Your wife is 100% correct there can be a dark side especially in business and secular relationships. I have seen that God has redeemed this form a currency and transformed it into a loving community. I should have probably as least alluded to negative side. Thanks for keeping me honest and giving me the freedom to go full on Chinese on everyone 🙂
What a fascinating problem to encounter in your ministry. I think of the years that have gone by that America has boasted “One Nation Under God”, yet today when the slogan is put to the test, it seems more people place their faith in the government. I suppose China is just being honest about it.
You make a valid point though, it is where they see their support going…though we are the “United” States, the one thing this country does not seem these days is united. The causes outnumber the solution. For Christians, at least I hope, we still believe that Christ is the only true solution; but to the world, worldly lives promote only worldly answers.
I read an article from NASA the other day regarding a new planet located just outside our own solar system that may be able to sustain life. I questioned then if that prospect ever became appealing enough, would the “Tower of Babel” mentality win over?
The loosely connected group of states doesn’t sound as good. 🙂 Pride always gets in the way whether we discover a new planet or put our country above God. Keep asking questions Shawn.
Hey Greg, You have given me an even greater appreciation of your context. Thank you. It’s hard to imagine living in a country that promotes such ideology and restriction of faith in Christ. It reminds me of the first century context in Rome. You could just as easily replace “Xi” with “Caesar” and you’d get a first century edict, even though their systems were very different. But as you say, this is largely coming from my lack of understanding of I-Thou relationships in Chinese culture. While I know in theory that the Chinese understand and define self in terms of relationship to the collective, I don’t really have an imagination for this, except that it seems more closely aligned with biblical ecclesiology than does American individualism. Do you see the application of Guan Xi in the Christian community to be significantly different than a similar size American church relates to one another in the church?
Chris we are all humans. I didn’t really talk about the dark side of guanxi and Mark alluded to. Even in the church there can be I scratch your back you scratch mine kind of guanxi. As loving as a christ transformed can be, the opposite is also true. We are fallen and bring that into our walk with God and his church. What I am saying is that connection in this context are often amplified. (for good or evil) When there is a division, it can be great and dramatic. Maybe in this culture having a common enemy keeps many focused on the big picture.
This was such an interesting post Greg, I feel like I learn so much about Chinese culture from your posts. I’m curious if you have experienced people replacing their pictures of Jesus with the Chinese President. I also think it is interesting how the Chinese government discourages individualism, which I think can be unhealthy for people to live under that pressure.
Fascinating Greg. Thanks for sharing.
The illustration of the tower of Babel was the genius. I think it really captures this entire topic. Still,, we are in a Post-Babel world and the way we have to communicate is to stumble through each other’s different languages and lenses.
Greg,
You started to touch on the community aspect of the church. Do you think the first believers after pentecost who lived together and sold all their belongings to take care of each other would identify more with the Chinese society than any other?
Just curious.
Jason