A Comparison between the Worshiping of God of Hong Xiuquan and the Doctrines of Christianity

Abstract

The purpose of this research paper is to compare whether the Hong Xiuquan interpretation of Christianity is similar to or different from Christian teachings as found in the Bible, by studying the Chinese translation of Christian teachings, including Quanshi Liangyan, the Yuandao Jiushige transcript, Taiping of San Zhi Jing scripture, Taiping Tianri transcript, Qindingqian Yizhaoshengshu John’s first transcript, and Taipingtianguo Shiliao transcript. The research results are divided into two themes: “trinity” and “form and formlessness”. The research has found that the trinity, which includes the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, is consistent with Christian doctrine, whereas the “form and formless” concepts contain inconsistent interpretations. The record shows that in the “God Worshipping Religion” the image of God is in a form of theism, which is different from Christian doctrine (as the Bible clearly states, God has only spoken to man through His voice). This distinction comes from religious leaders who interpret the Bible. The change may occur according to the interpretation theory. This change may be based on the theory of interpretation which focuses on the interpretation of the reader by adding his own idea to complete the reader's view. But when the interpretation is taken to the extreme, it can cause the “God Worshiping Religion” to have a completely different concept, such as at the end of the Taiping Movement, when a group of leaders deliberately created values in order to protect their authority.