Ethnic identity in a Hong Kong religious setting: the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church and its members.

Lin, Tat Kit.Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 208-221).Abstracts in English and Chinese.Abstract --- p.iiAcknowledgements --- p.ivList of Tables and Illustrations --- p.viChapter Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1Significance and Goals --- p.2Fieldsite Specification --- p.10Literature Review --- p.14Theories of EthnicityReligion and EthnicityEthnic Studies in Hong KongChristianity and Ethnicity in Hong KongChristian and other Religious Studies in Hong KongTheoretical Orientation --- p.25Interpretive ApproachConstructivist ApproachResearch Methods --- p.29Personal InterviewsInformal Interviews with Church MembersParticipant ObservationReview of Church PublicationsStructure of the Thesis --- p.34Chapter Chapter 2. --- "The Chaoshan Region, Chaozhou Immigrants, Swatow Baptists and the Compatriot Ethnic Churches in Hong Kong" --- p.37An Overview of the Chaoshan Region --- p.39Chaozhou Immigrants and the Teochiu in Hong Kong --- p.42The Compatriot Ethnic Churches in Hong Kong --- p.51Baptist Missionary Work in Hong Kong and the Chaoshan Region --- p.54Early Baptist Missionary Work in Hong KongBaptist Missionary Work in Shantou and Hong KongA Brief History of the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church --- p.62Summary --- p.65Chapter Chapter 3. --- Expressions of Chaozhou Identity in the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church --- p.69The Label --- p.70The External Features of Ethnic Identity --- p.73The Use of Chaozhou LanguageObjects and Activities Linked to Chaozhou OriginThe Transformed Expressions of the Traditional Chaozhou IdentitySubtle Group Boundaries in Church StructureSubtle Group Boundaries in the Wider Baptist CircleThe Subjective Experience of Church Members --- p.97The Spirit of Ethnic Solidarity in the ChurchThe Affirmation of Chaozhou IdentitySummary --- p.112Chapter Chapter 4. --- Reasons for Insisting on Chaozhou Language and Chaozhou Identity --- p.117Explanations Proposed by Church Members --- p.118"Explanation One---""Most people in this Church are Chaozhou; so of course we keep our Chaozhou identity """"Explanation Two----“We need to protect our Tradition """Explanation Three---“This is a practical way to absorb Chaozhou Christians and Chaozhou non-believers´حExplanation Four---“We need to take care of the aged Chaozhou members ´ة´ةExplanation Five---“It's can opportunity to learn a language ´ة´ةPsychocultural Interpretation --- p.132Psychocultural Explanation---“´ةm afraid of losing my Chaozhou identity´حSummary --- p.146Chapter Chapter 5. --- Church Mechanisms Reinforcing Ethnicity --- p.149Mechanisms of Naturalization --- p.150Religious Meeting as Co-Ethnic Member MeetingAttendance Numbers of the Morning ServiceAnnual Celebration DinnerMechanisms of Persuasion --- p.160Chaozhou Identity ContestedChaozhou Identity ReinforcedSummary --- p.181Chapter Chapter 6. --- Conclusion: The Role of Religion in Maintaining Ethnicity --- p.185Preserving Ethnicity in a Church Setting: Religion Helps --- p.186Maintaining Ethnicity under Disadvantageous Social Condition: Religion Stimulates --- p.196Insisting on Ethnicity without Flexibility: Religion Stunted --- p.201Bibliography --- p.20