The majority of Hong Kong residents were initially predominant worshipers of Confucius. They believed in the Holy Trinity of Guanyin, Amutabha Duddha and Shakiyamuni Buddha. Later on, Hong, the self-proclaimed Heavenly King and God’s son, introduced Taiping during an era of great peace.
Taiping demanded former worshipers of Confucius to first repent their iniquities before they could embrace the new faith. Taiping era led to the demolition of Confucius mortals as well as subsequent serious attempts to eradicate Confucius who was later judged in Heaven. He also made to repent and later on, as Hong told his subjects through his elder brother, “Jesus” was enjoying Heavenly happiness.
It later emerged that Hong had structured Taiping so as to create his own kingdom in Hong Kong. The entry of British missionaries in Hong Kong led to the revelations of errors in the Biblical interpretations done by Hong. For instance, Jesus was the only Son of God and not a brother to Hong.
More so, other additions, deletions and inclusions in the Taiping version of the Bible that differed with the received text were also revealed. These revelations led to a rebellion led by Huoxioi in unity with other missionaries against Hong and Taiping. It is recorded that approximately 20,000,000 Chinese were directly affected by this war which marked the beginning of true Christianity in Hong Kong that later spread to other parts.
The Taiping civil war saw the correction of the version of the Taiping Bible, both Old and New Testament to the initial version as perceived to have been received from God.
The various teachings of Taiping on Christianity and worship were also denounced by the missionaries who now embarked on teaching about the true God in Heaven. Worship buildings initially used by Taiping were converted to classes of religion for Christians. Liang Afa and other converts also embarked on helping the Chinese believe in the true God through their teachings.
The Confucius, Taiping era, the rebellion led by Robert Morrison and eventual civil war had various impacts on the Christian fraternity in Hong Kong. The initial converts who had earlier denounced Confucius to follow Hong and the Taiping were left confused especially on who was the true God since Hong and the missionaries both claimed to serve God. They must also have been made to doubt God and his course of action.
According to the teaching of Taiping, God was portrayed as benevolent to the extent that He even forgave Confucius. They were also taught that Jesus and Hong were God’s real children. There was no instance when God was so weak to let His Son’s Kingdom be overthrown in a war.
The war also locked out a few individuals who were willing, but yet to embrace Christianity. It appeared to them that Christianity was like a path to sovereignty and power on the land. The transition from Confucius to Taiping and finally the fall of Taiping seemed like a tussle for power in Hong Kong. Those who were impressed by the Christian values but not interested in the tussles opted not to be Christians.
Hong disguised himself as the Heavenly King in an attempt to create his own Kingdom in Hong Kong leading to the religious civil war in China. Although the rebellion had numerous effects, it gave rise to the worship of God in China. The fall of Taiping was not only in Hong Kong but in most parts of China.