Public Prayer, Political Mobilization and Civic Participation: the Case of the Protestantism in Hong Kong

This article examines how pro-China Protestant groups in Hong Kong use public prayer events as an instrument for political campaigns supporting the Chinese government, whereas liberal Protestant groups use it as a media for building the civil society and promoting political change. Based on the case of Protestants in Hong Kong reacting to a political issue concerning the constitution of the Legislative Council, we argue that public prayer, a religious cultural tool, functions as a means of promoting civic involvement, forming identity and community, and acting as a resource for cultural mobilization. This shows that praying with its effect, coupled with organizational structure and social ties of religious institutions, is significantly related to political mobilization and civic participation. The controversy over public prayer not only reflects the contentious politics between conservative and progressive Protestant groups at work in Hong Kong but also reveals globalization of prayer campaigns in that they are being transplanted and reproduced in Asia.