Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Watchman Nee (1903–1972) was a Chinese minister who promoted a unique set of Christian teachings. They included the idea that people were created with a human spirit, distinct from the human soul, and that in this spirit, people could enjoy a dynamic, transcendent oneness with God. Nee also taught that such divine–human unity was practiced in local congregations, where their victorious testimony would bring an end to history, fulfilling God’s ultimate purpose in creation. These teachings have captivated millions of readers, attracting followers in dozens of languages and on all six continents. This book traces the Christian history and Chinese context of Nee’s surprising writings, showing how a young man with no formal theological training came to develop a set of beliefs that has persisted for over a century. Throughout his life, Nee drew from both a unique lineage of Christian thought and from the tumultuous society of twentieth-century China. Each of Nee’s major teachings will be explained as they developed biographically, from his background as a third-generation Christian to his first encounters with the evangelical tradition, to his leadership of an international fellowship of churches, to his dramatic imprisonment and death. Readers will come to understand the core set of concepts and practices that has drawn adherents from rock stars to politicians, with the result that Nee remains both popular and controversial today.</jats:p>