Official Survey Reports 23 Million Christians in China
Thu, Aug. 12, 2010 Posted: 05:53 PM EDT
HONG KONG – Christians in China now number just over 23 million, according to the results of the Communist country’s first official faith survey.
Although that figure amounts to only 1.8 percent of the total population, it represents 73 percent of China’s religious population.
The figures were contained in the newly published Blue Book on China Religions, compiled by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, an academic unit under the control of the Chinese government, according to China Daily.
The academy looked at the responses of over 60,000 questionnaires carried out in more than 300 counties across China.
Among the Christians interviewed, 69 percent of them said that they had converted to Christianity because they or their family members had fallen ill. A staggering 70 percent of those describing themselves as Christian were female and 67 percent of all Christians surveyed said they had been baptized.
The academy attributed the growth to societal reform over the last three decades, with 73 percent of Chinese Christians having joined the church after 1993, and only 18 percent having joined the church between 1982 and 1992.
“These statistics clearly indicate that the 30-year period of reform and opening up has been a period of rapid development for both Chinese society and the Chinese church,” Fu Xianwei, who heads the body that ensures churches follow state interests, was quoted as saying by China Daily.
Researchers noted a change in church demographics, with more young people, intellectuals and professionals joining the church in recent years.
To cope with the increase in number, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of churches in China, which now number more than 55,000.
Researchers noted that although the church had grown, Christian communities are still marginalized in society.
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said on its website that Christianity mainly attracts people with low social status, including the poor, the women and older people.
It said that while half of Christians had completed their primary education, only 2.6 percent of them attained a college degree or higher.
There are different estimates on the total number of Christians in China when attendance at unregistered churches is taken into account, with figures ranging from 40 million to 130 million.
The Blue Book also touched on figures for Catholicism, Buddhism, Islam and Taoism. The number of Catholics in China, according to the book, is 5.7 million.
Aenon Shalom
Compass Direct News
Showing posts with label China. Show all posts
Showing posts with label China. Show all posts
Friday, August 13, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Even the rich and educated are embracing Christianity
China Church Growth 'Unique' and 'Explosive', Says Expert
Friday, Aug. 6, 2010 Posted: 2:09:45AM HKT
The Church in China is experiencing tremendous growth like never before, says an official with the World Council of Churches (WCC).
Mathews George Chunakara, WCC's Director of International Affairs and Public Witness, says there had been a "unique and explosive growth" of Christianity among the Chinese people.
"I have been visiting China for the last 15 years. I am astounded to see the tremendous growth there. Their worship places are now overflowing," Chunakara told New Delhi-based Christian Today in a recent interview.
"It is not just the poor you see in churches,” he added. ”Even the rich and educated are embracing Christianity. Beijing and Shanghai are the proof.”
In the early 1970s, there were an estimated three million Christians in China. Now, the number may be as high as 130 million.
And while the government has been known for keeping a tight grip on the activities in churches, Chunakara said the situation has "much improved" and that the government is now starting to "favor" religious people.
"The Chinese government will not raid unless provoked,” reported Chunakara. “Now being the fastest growing economy, they know the importance of a harmonious society. To promote such a society, they are giving religion a special role."
One example Chunakara pointed to was the Communist Government’s amendment of the Chinese Constitution two years ago to accommodate the role of religion.
"You could not expect such a thing to happen 15 years ago," Chunakara said.
Still, the government is continuing to keep a close eye on the activities of official churches and there has been sporadic persecution against Christians belonging to unofficial house churches.
But Chunakara praised God for the growth of the Church in China and in other Asian countries.
“Not only China, in many Asian countries the Church is expanding,” Chunakara noted. “More people are coming to God. In addition, the participation of young people is absolutely remarkable in comparison with those in West.
“There is genuine spiritual eagerness among the grassroot level people,” he said.
Chunakara said he believes God is using the foolish to shame the wise.
"While Christianity is dying in the West, God is bringing a spiritual awakening in third world countries like India and China," he stated.
Before taking on his current role at the WCC, Chunakara served as Asia secretary at the ecumenical church body.
Dibin Samuel
Christian Today Reporter
Friday, Aug. 6, 2010 Posted: 2:09:45AM HKT
The Church in China is experiencing tremendous growth like never before, says an official with the World Council of Churches (WCC).
Mathews George Chunakara, WCC's Director of International Affairs and Public Witness, says there had been a "unique and explosive growth" of Christianity among the Chinese people.
"I have been visiting China for the last 15 years. I am astounded to see the tremendous growth there. Their worship places are now overflowing," Chunakara told New Delhi-based Christian Today in a recent interview.
"It is not just the poor you see in churches,” he added. ”Even the rich and educated are embracing Christianity. Beijing and Shanghai are the proof.”
In the early 1970s, there were an estimated three million Christians in China. Now, the number may be as high as 130 million.
And while the government has been known for keeping a tight grip on the activities in churches, Chunakara said the situation has "much improved" and that the government is now starting to "favor" religious people.
"The Chinese government will not raid unless provoked,” reported Chunakara. “Now being the fastest growing economy, they know the importance of a harmonious society. To promote such a society, they are giving religion a special role."
One example Chunakara pointed to was the Communist Government’s amendment of the Chinese Constitution two years ago to accommodate the role of religion.
"You could not expect such a thing to happen 15 years ago," Chunakara said.
Still, the government is continuing to keep a close eye on the activities of official churches and there has been sporadic persecution against Christians belonging to unofficial house churches.
But Chunakara praised God for the growth of the Church in China and in other Asian countries.
“Not only China, in many Asian countries the Church is expanding,” Chunakara noted. “More people are coming to God. In addition, the participation of young people is absolutely remarkable in comparison with those in West.
“There is genuine spiritual eagerness among the grassroot level people,” he said.
Chunakara said he believes God is using the foolish to shame the wise.
"While Christianity is dying in the West, God is bringing a spiritual awakening in third world countries like India and China," he stated.
Before taking on his current role at the WCC, Chunakara served as Asia secretary at the ecumenical church body.
Dibin Samuel
Christian Today Reporter
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Prediction given in Jan 2008, some have come to pass
Pat Robertson Predicts Stock-Market Crash, Rising Gold Prices and Spiritual Breakthrough in China
Bob Allen
Posted: Friday, January 4, 2008 12:00 am
Source: Click Here
Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson predicted global violence and chaos in 2008, along with economic recession in the United States, in annual prognostications broadcast on Wednesday's "700 Club" television program.
In what has become an annual tradition, the one-time presidential candidate explained an apparent error in what he thought he heard God telling him in a prayer retreat at the end of 2006.
"Last year I felt God was saying there was going to be some kind of terrorist attack that might involve a nuclear weapon," Robertson said. "That hasn't happened, didn't happen in 2007."
"All I can think is that somehow the people of God prayed, and God in his mercy spared us," Robertson said.
But Robertson, who once agreed on television with the late Jerry Falwell that the 9/11 attacks were God's judgment on America's sin, indicated he isn't sure the nation is yet off the hook.
"I think some of those things that have been stored up are going to happen, but it's just a question of when," he said. "And it didn't happen, obviously, in 2007. We had terrible fires. We had awful floods in the Northwest. We had some other disasters in the Heartland, but we didn't have a terrorist attack. And for that I'm very grateful. So did I miss it? Possibly. On the other hand, did God avert it? Possibly. But whatever, it didn't happen. So I think we can all rejoice in that."
This year's prophecy brought more doom and gloom.
"The Lord was saying there's going to be violence and chaos in the world," Robertson said of his most recent prayer retreat. "This is not going to be a peaceful year."
"And lo and behold, we had hardly finished the prayer meeting when the screens were filled with violence in Kenya," he said. "There's violence in Pakistan. We've just begun to see what's going to happen. The nations are going to be convulsed with violence. This is not going to be a fun year in terms of political activity. There will be violence all over the world."
Economically, "I think is we're going to have a recession here in America, if we are not already in it," he said. He predicted the price of gold will hit $1,000, oil will increase to $150 a barrel and the dollar will continue to fall. "That will not necessarily be a good thing for our economy," he said.
"I also believe the Lord was saying by 2009, maybe 2010, there's going to be a major stock market crash, and not just a little blip like we've had, but a major crash," he said. "And we'll have time to kind of run for the lifeboat. It's not there yet, but it will be coming down the road."
On the upside, Robertson predicted that evangelism will intensify, as hard times force people to seek spiritual answers. In particular he sees "a great move of God in China and India."
"What I'm praying about is China," he said. "I'm asking for 250 million in China. We haven't had that breakthrough yet, but I think we're going to get it. God's going to give us China, and China will be the largest Christian nation on the face of the earth. They're going to come to Jesus."
Robertson's interests in China are more than spiritual. He has media holdings there, and in 2006 said the U.S. should seek economic partnership with China, breaking ranks with other evangelicals who oppose dealing with China unless the nation improves its record on human rights.
Robertson said he didn't "have any revelation" about U.S. future in Iraq. "I had a deep unease about this Iraq war from the very beginning," he said, "that just in my spirit I knew, and the Lord told me, it would be a disaster. Well it has been a disaster."
But Robertson said he received a clear word about Israel. "The Lord shared with me, and I believe I heard the Lord, that the leadership of Israel is in a fog, that their minds are in a fog," he said. "And they don't see the danger, the danger that is coming to them. And it's as plain as the nose on your face to see what a tragedy it would be if you turned the West Bank over to terrorists and give half of Jerusalem to these people. It's going to be an unbelievably bloody mess."
"Just like now in the Gaza Strip, factions of the Palestinians are fighting one another," he said. "They have mismanaged. There's been corruption. There has been all kind of veniality. There has been persecution of minorities. You say, 'How can these people be partners in peace?' And yet the Bush administration, as one more example of folly in foreign policy, is pushing with all its effort to make this thing happen, like it's going to be some sort of a trophy. Well they're moving toward self-destruction, and those of us who love Israel are very concerned. I am one of them."
Concerning his own ministry, Robertson said: "I think in this year to come, more than anything, that what God's emphasis for CBN needs to be is helping the poor and the downtrodden. There are people in this world that are just crying out to God for help, and the Lord basically was saying to me if you take care of them, then you're taking care of me. And if you minister to them you are ministering to me. And if you look after them I am going to look after you."
Robertson also implied God told him who will be elected president in 2008.
"He told me some things about the election, but I'm not going to say, because some old man on '60 Minutes' would make fun of me, so I'm not going to tell you who the winner's going to be," he said.
But he may have hinted that it won't be Hillary Clinton, the only woman who is running. "We will not name the name of the gentleman who will be doing that," he said in a joking rejoinder to a question tossed in by "700 Club" co-host Terry Meeuwsen.
It also didn't appear the nod would be going to Republican Rudy Giuliani, whom Robertson has endorsed. "I'll just keep that to myself and look with horror at what may be happening," he quipped.
In 2004 Robertson predicted President Bush would win a second term in a "blowout." Bush defeated John Kerry 51 percent to 48 percent and carried the electoral vote by a single state.
In 2005 Robertson forecast "triumph" in Bush's second term. Since Election Day 2004, the president's approval ratings slipped to an all-time low, and Republicans lost control of Congress in mid-term elections in 2006.
Robertson has been wrong before. He said Russia would invade Israel in 1982, that there would be a worldwide economic collapse in 1985 and that U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller would be elected president in 1996.
Bob Allen is managing editor of EthicsDaily.com.
Previous stories:
Robertson Predicts 'Triumph' in Second Bush Term
Robertson Predicts `Blowout Election' for Bush
Bob Allen
Posted: Friday, January 4, 2008 12:00 am
Source: Click Here
Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson predicted global violence and chaos in 2008, along with economic recession in the United States, in annual prognostications broadcast on Wednesday's "700 Club" television program.
In what has become an annual tradition, the one-time presidential candidate explained an apparent error in what he thought he heard God telling him in a prayer retreat at the end of 2006.
"Last year I felt God was saying there was going to be some kind of terrorist attack that might involve a nuclear weapon," Robertson said. "That hasn't happened, didn't happen in 2007."
"All I can think is that somehow the people of God prayed, and God in his mercy spared us," Robertson said.
But Robertson, who once agreed on television with the late Jerry Falwell that the 9/11 attacks were God's judgment on America's sin, indicated he isn't sure the nation is yet off the hook.
"I think some of those things that have been stored up are going to happen, but it's just a question of when," he said. "And it didn't happen, obviously, in 2007. We had terrible fires. We had awful floods in the Northwest. We had some other disasters in the Heartland, but we didn't have a terrorist attack. And for that I'm very grateful. So did I miss it? Possibly. On the other hand, did God avert it? Possibly. But whatever, it didn't happen. So I think we can all rejoice in that."
This year's prophecy brought more doom and gloom.
"The Lord was saying there's going to be violence and chaos in the world," Robertson said of his most recent prayer retreat. "This is not going to be a peaceful year."
"And lo and behold, we had hardly finished the prayer meeting when the screens were filled with violence in Kenya," he said. "There's violence in Pakistan. We've just begun to see what's going to happen. The nations are going to be convulsed with violence. This is not going to be a fun year in terms of political activity. There will be violence all over the world."
Economically, "I think is we're going to have a recession here in America, if we are not already in it," he said. He predicted the price of gold will hit $1,000, oil will increase to $150 a barrel and the dollar will continue to fall. "That will not necessarily be a good thing for our economy," he said.
"I also believe the Lord was saying by 2009, maybe 2010, there's going to be a major stock market crash, and not just a little blip like we've had, but a major crash," he said. "And we'll have time to kind of run for the lifeboat. It's not there yet, but it will be coming down the road."
On the upside, Robertson predicted that evangelism will intensify, as hard times force people to seek spiritual answers. In particular he sees "a great move of God in China and India."
"What I'm praying about is China," he said. "I'm asking for 250 million in China. We haven't had that breakthrough yet, but I think we're going to get it. God's going to give us China, and China will be the largest Christian nation on the face of the earth. They're going to come to Jesus."
Robertson's interests in China are more than spiritual. He has media holdings there, and in 2006 said the U.S. should seek economic partnership with China, breaking ranks with other evangelicals who oppose dealing with China unless the nation improves its record on human rights.
Robertson said he didn't "have any revelation" about U.S. future in Iraq. "I had a deep unease about this Iraq war from the very beginning," he said, "that just in my spirit I knew, and the Lord told me, it would be a disaster. Well it has been a disaster."
But Robertson said he received a clear word about Israel. "The Lord shared with me, and I believe I heard the Lord, that the leadership of Israel is in a fog, that their minds are in a fog," he said. "And they don't see the danger, the danger that is coming to them. And it's as plain as the nose on your face to see what a tragedy it would be if you turned the West Bank over to terrorists and give half of Jerusalem to these people. It's going to be an unbelievably bloody mess."
"Just like now in the Gaza Strip, factions of the Palestinians are fighting one another," he said. "They have mismanaged. There's been corruption. There has been all kind of veniality. There has been persecution of minorities. You say, 'How can these people be partners in peace?' And yet the Bush administration, as one more example of folly in foreign policy, is pushing with all its effort to make this thing happen, like it's going to be some sort of a trophy. Well they're moving toward self-destruction, and those of us who love Israel are very concerned. I am one of them."
Concerning his own ministry, Robertson said: "I think in this year to come, more than anything, that what God's emphasis for CBN needs to be is helping the poor and the downtrodden. There are people in this world that are just crying out to God for help, and the Lord basically was saying to me if you take care of them, then you're taking care of me. And if you minister to them you are ministering to me. And if you look after them I am going to look after you."
Robertson also implied God told him who will be elected president in 2008.
"He told me some things about the election, but I'm not going to say, because some old man on '60 Minutes' would make fun of me, so I'm not going to tell you who the winner's going to be," he said.
But he may have hinted that it won't be Hillary Clinton, the only woman who is running. "We will not name the name of the gentleman who will be doing that," he said in a joking rejoinder to a question tossed in by "700 Club" co-host Terry Meeuwsen.
It also didn't appear the nod would be going to Republican Rudy Giuliani, whom Robertson has endorsed. "I'll just keep that to myself and look with horror at what may be happening," he quipped.
In 2004 Robertson predicted President Bush would win a second term in a "blowout." Bush defeated John Kerry 51 percent to 48 percent and carried the electoral vote by a single state.
In 2005 Robertson forecast "triumph" in Bush's second term. Since Election Day 2004, the president's approval ratings slipped to an all-time low, and Republicans lost control of Congress in mid-term elections in 2006.
Robertson has been wrong before. He said Russia would invade Israel in 1982, that there would be a worldwide economic collapse in 1985 and that U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller would be elected president in 1996.
Bob Allen is managing editor of EthicsDaily.com.
Previous stories:
Robertson Predicts 'Triumph' in Second Bush Term
Robertson Predicts `Blowout Election' for Bush
Friday, May 1, 2009
Balance between stable growth and loosening up on controls
Asia’s kung fu star puts foot in mouth
INSIGHT DOWN SOUTH
By SEAH CHIANG NEE
Saturday May 2, 2009
Jackie Chan’s assertion that the Chinese need to be controlled has not gone down well in this city state whose people want more freedom.
ASIA’S popular kung fu star Jackie Chan has touched on one of Singapore’s – and Asia’s – current pressing debates when he said in China: “I’m not sure if it’s good to have freedom or not. We Chinese need to be controlled (or else) we’ll just do what we want.”
In his easy-talking manner, the Hong Kong star said that the Chinese people have to be controlled or society would be “chaotic”, like in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and Singapore, too, had it not been the strict laws.
“When you reach Singapore, you must obey its laws, if you are caught littering, you will go to jail right away,” Jackie Chan said.
Yes, people had a habit of sticking chewing gum on tables and chairs until the authorities banned it (the ban has since been partially lifted).
Why? The actor, who has made 100 movies, said this was because Singaporeans did not have a sense of self-respect, and were not as orderly as Japanese and Americans, Shin Min quoted him as saying.
His allegations about Chinese needing control were largely about lifestyles, but also intruded into politics, which has been turned into Asia’s political freedom issue.
The people in Taiwan and Hong Kong, who dislike the idea of control, are reacting more strongly than those in Singapore and China.
China’s revolution was only 30 years old, Jackie Chan said, so he was unsure if freedom would be a good thing for it.
He went on: “I’m really confused now. If you’re too free, you’re like the way Hong Kong is now. It’s very chaotic. Taiwan is also chaotic.”
Some, however, feel that the audience, which included many Beijing officials and business leaders, might have been a large factor in his staunch defence of authoritarian rule.
His speech is likely to go down well, not only with China’s leaders, but also with Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.
A permanent resident here since 1998, Jackie Chan has long been an admirer of Singapore’s disciplined development, and Lee’s role in it.
His affinity with the city came in several ways. Only recently, he donated his prized collection of seven antique wooden Chinese houses amassed over 20 years to Singapore – instead of to Hong Kong as originally planned.
It could become a tourist attraction, to showcase the culture and skills of China’s past.
Earlier, he had paid S$11mil (RM$26mil) to buy Singapore’s historic Jinriksha Station (built: 1903) that was once the central depot for rickshaw pullers. He owns several ex-pensive condos in central Singapore.
What Jackie Chan said in China recently reflects what Lee had often said, that “too much” democracy and individual rights would destabilise social order.
This view is, however, not shared by many younger Singaporeans, who want to see an end to controls. Jackie Chan’s speeches have revived a hot “democracy-versus-control” debate in Singa-pore.
This explains why they set off so much hostility here. A few youths even called for a boycott of his films.
“The people’s self respect will not increase under a regime of controls,” said a Jackie Chan critic.
Some questioned whether Jackie Chan was planning a political role after his retirement from movies. “He is not a political figure, so why these political comments?” a lady asked.
Not all were critical. The older, conservative elements say his observations are a necessary reminder of what life really is about.
Actually his opinion is nothing that has not been said by many people before, but in more refined language.
What he says, more bluntly than others, is that Chinese people are not civic-conscious and Singapore is not yet a civil society where people behave well without the threat of punishment.
The Jackie Chan saga comes at a time when Singapore is striving to find a balance between stable growth and loosening up on controls to satisfy the people.
A solution is critical because of another reason. Too many controls could stifle plans to produce a new generation of creative workers for the next leap.
Do Singaporeans really lack self-respect? Some Singaporeans think Jackie Chan exaggerated; a better term is “lack of self-pride” – or even national identity – that society regularly discusses within itself.
Jackie Chan was, however, partially right in one sense. Singapore’s character building is relatively poor. Social development has lagged far behind economic progress.
People who were raised in this rich business hub, often dubbed Singapore Inc, are still pondering about their national identity and who they really are.
Many youngsters have grown up as good students and professionals, but without love of country – or respect for each other. Their emigration rate is high – and rising.
The bonding has been further weakened by a large influx of foreigners, most of them to make money before leaving.
Singapore has not got a whole lot of history, unlike bigger, older civilisations with their centuries of achievements and shared disasters.
There are few heroes to emulate or world achievements to augment the people’s self-respect or pride.
The wave of the future for this rapidly transforming society is unlikely to be the control advocated by Jackie Chan. It lies in the continuing relaxation of regulations, including political controls, and collective education to inculcate self-discipline.
At any rate, the world has had a chance to enjoy Jackie Chan’s unique films because of his upbringing in “chaotic” Hong Kong and America.
Singapore, for one, will be happy to have a little of that chaos, if it can produce people like him in any field.
The talent of Jackie Chan, if he were born, educated and working in regulated Singapore, would have been lost to the world.
INSIGHT DOWN SOUTH
By SEAH CHIANG NEE
Saturday May 2, 2009
Jackie Chan’s assertion that the Chinese need to be controlled has not gone down well in this city state whose people want more freedom.
ASIA’S popular kung fu star Jackie Chan has touched on one of Singapore’s – and Asia’s – current pressing debates when he said in China: “I’m not sure if it’s good to have freedom or not. We Chinese need to be controlled (or else) we’ll just do what we want.”
In his easy-talking manner, the Hong Kong star said that the Chinese people have to be controlled or society would be “chaotic”, like in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and Singapore, too, had it not been the strict laws.
“When you reach Singapore, you must obey its laws, if you are caught littering, you will go to jail right away,” Jackie Chan said.
Yes, people had a habit of sticking chewing gum on tables and chairs until the authorities banned it (the ban has since been partially lifted).
Why? The actor, who has made 100 movies, said this was because Singaporeans did not have a sense of self-respect, and were not as orderly as Japanese and Americans, Shin Min quoted him as saying.
His allegations about Chinese needing control were largely about lifestyles, but also intruded into politics, which has been turned into Asia’s political freedom issue.
The people in Taiwan and Hong Kong, who dislike the idea of control, are reacting more strongly than those in Singapore and China.
China’s revolution was only 30 years old, Jackie Chan said, so he was unsure if freedom would be a good thing for it.
He went on: “I’m really confused now. If you’re too free, you’re like the way Hong Kong is now. It’s very chaotic. Taiwan is also chaotic.”
Some, however, feel that the audience, which included many Beijing officials and business leaders, might have been a large factor in his staunch defence of authoritarian rule.
His speech is likely to go down well, not only with China’s leaders, but also with Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.
A permanent resident here since 1998, Jackie Chan has long been an admirer of Singapore’s disciplined development, and Lee’s role in it.
His affinity with the city came in several ways. Only recently, he donated his prized collection of seven antique wooden Chinese houses amassed over 20 years to Singapore – instead of to Hong Kong as originally planned.
It could become a tourist attraction, to showcase the culture and skills of China’s past.
Earlier, he had paid S$11mil (RM$26mil) to buy Singapore’s historic Jinriksha Station (built: 1903) that was once the central depot for rickshaw pullers. He owns several ex-pensive condos in central Singapore.
What Jackie Chan said in China recently reflects what Lee had often said, that “too much” democracy and individual rights would destabilise social order.
This view is, however, not shared by many younger Singaporeans, who want to see an end to controls. Jackie Chan’s speeches have revived a hot “democracy-versus-control” debate in Singa-pore.
This explains why they set off so much hostility here. A few youths even called for a boycott of his films.
“The people’s self respect will not increase under a regime of controls,” said a Jackie Chan critic.
Some questioned whether Jackie Chan was planning a political role after his retirement from movies. “He is not a political figure, so why these political comments?” a lady asked.
Not all were critical. The older, conservative elements say his observations are a necessary reminder of what life really is about.
Actually his opinion is nothing that has not been said by many people before, but in more refined language.
What he says, more bluntly than others, is that Chinese people are not civic-conscious and Singapore is not yet a civil society where people behave well without the threat of punishment.
The Jackie Chan saga comes at a time when Singapore is striving to find a balance between stable growth and loosening up on controls to satisfy the people.
A solution is critical because of another reason. Too many controls could stifle plans to produce a new generation of creative workers for the next leap.
Do Singaporeans really lack self-respect? Some Singaporeans think Jackie Chan exaggerated; a better term is “lack of self-pride” – or even national identity – that society regularly discusses within itself.
Jackie Chan was, however, partially right in one sense. Singapore’s character building is relatively poor. Social development has lagged far behind economic progress.
People who were raised in this rich business hub, often dubbed Singapore Inc, are still pondering about their national identity and who they really are.
Many youngsters have grown up as good students and professionals, but without love of country – or respect for each other. Their emigration rate is high – and rising.
The bonding has been further weakened by a large influx of foreigners, most of them to make money before leaving.
Singapore has not got a whole lot of history, unlike bigger, older civilisations with their centuries of achievements and shared disasters.
There are few heroes to emulate or world achievements to augment the people’s self-respect or pride.
The wave of the future for this rapidly transforming society is unlikely to be the control advocated by Jackie Chan. It lies in the continuing relaxation of regulations, including political controls, and collective education to inculcate self-discipline.
At any rate, the world has had a chance to enjoy Jackie Chan’s unique films because of his upbringing in “chaotic” Hong Kong and America.
Singapore, for one, will be happy to have a little of that chaos, if it can produce people like him in any field.
The talent of Jackie Chan, if he were born, educated and working in regulated Singapore, would have been lost to the world.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
If the church ceases to do evangelism, is it the true church?
Franklin Graham under fire for Olympic evangelism comment
by Michelle A Vu, Christian Post
Posted: Saturday, May 17, 2008, 5:48 (BST)
American evangelist Franklin Graham came under fire for saying he opposed evangelism during the Beijing Olympic Games.
Graham had made the comment to Chinese reporters during his recent trip to mainland China, where he visited government officials, church leaders, and preached to 12,000 people at a Chinese megachurch.
The eldest son of renowned evangelist Billy Graham said he opposed missionary work during the Games because it is prohibited under Chinese law, and he does not encourage anything illegal.
In response, a respected religious freedom activist defended Chinese house church Christians as “law-abiding, patriotic citizens” who are not doing anything wrong by following their faith which teaches them to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
“[Christians] cannot and will not [concede] to a ‘faith moratorium’ in order to please an atheistic government during the Olympic Games, even if that means enduring imprisonment and torture,” said Bob Fu, president of China Aid Association, in a statement on Wednesday.
Fu, who was recently honoured by President Bush for his religious freedom advocacy in China, denounced the Chinese law as unjust because it asked Christians to go against the teachings of Jesus Christ.
He called Graham’s comment about submitting to the ban on Olympic evangelism “a deep offense” to the hundreds of house church prisoners and their family members.
In China, the Christian population is divided into two groups – those worshipping in the state-sanctioned churches under the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) and those attending unregistered house churches.
TSPM leaders have publicly stated that foreign evangelistic efforts during the Beijing Olympics are not welcome or tolerated, Fu said. But house churches feel differently.
“To the house church leaders, it’s an issue of the lordship of Christ to the church,” Fu explained to OneNewsNow. “And if the church ceases to do evangelism, is it the true church? It’s a big question.”
Religious freedom has improved in communist China in recent years, but the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) this year still recommended the State Department to keep China on its religious freedom blacklist because of its treatment of house churches and religious minorities not recognised by the Chinese Government.
Recent persecution of unregistered churches include the arrest of 270 Protestant house church pastors in December, and the expulsion of more than 100 foreign missionaries last summer – the largest event of its kind since 1954 after the communist government took power in 1949.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Preach the Word - in season and out of season - and during the Olympics season!
China Won't Ban Bibles at Olympics, Assures Evangelist
Christian evangelist Luis Palau is encouraging Christians to bring their Bibles to the Summer Olympics in China, claiming that the Chinese government is 'wide open' and will not stop visitors from bringing Scripture into the officially atheistic country.
Fri, Feb. 22, 2008 Posted: 13:00:32 PM EST
NEW YORK – Christian evangelist Luis Palau is encouraging Christians to bring their Bibles to the Summer Olympics in China, claiming that the Chinese government is "wide open" and will not stop visitors from bringing Scripture into the officially atheistic country.
"I have asked officially from people here and over there. Any person can go in there and take Bibles, as long as they're not selling them," Palau told The Christian Post in an interview on Thursday.
"If they're giving them away, they can take all the Bibles they want. And I think that's going to happen. And I think that's very valuable."
Palau's comments come after China persecution watchdogs criticized the Chinese government last November for listing the Bible as one of the banned items in the Olympic Village.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao, however, clarified that China's law "will guarantee religious freedom during the Olympics," but not allow Bibles to be brought in for "distribution or propaganda," reported Agence France-Presse. According to the official, athletes, journalists, and tourists will be allowed to bring worship items, including the Bible, for personal use.
Palau, who was in New York City this week to promote his new book, A Friendly Dialogue Between An Atheist and A Christian, said he doesn't think Christians will face much opposition from the People's Republic of China during their stay there.
"I'm encouraging people to book their flights because it's going to be jammed. And to get a hotel and bed and breakfast because it's going to be jammed with people," he said.
"But they're going to be free, they're not going to be stopped to express the Gospel, to preach," he assured.
He added, "They were afraid that the athletes would start. Athletes are there to play and win, you know. But they may witness for Christ like some Chinese athletes do."
The Chinese government is known for its repressive religious policies, which prohibit worship outside state-approved venues and forbid proselytizing. It is not unusual to hear reports about Christians being detained and harassed by police for defying the regulations.
Palau, however, is more optimistic. He said that his Gospel message in China has never been censored, although many persecution watchdog groups note that his addresses have been in government-sanctioned churches.
Despite being very open about his future plans in China, one obstacle Palau said he did encounter was permission to hold an open-door evangelistic rally in China.
While he looks forward to such a rally in China by the time the Summer Olympics arrive in Beijing in July, Palau said that for now he will just have to wait for approval by Chinese officials.
"I believe you ask for permission, from my perspective as a foreigner coming to a foreign country," he explained.
"They have said to me, 'Be patient. Keep coming back. In China, we'd like to befriend a person, get to know them, trust them'... So, we're looking forward to it any day now."
The Argentina-born evangelist even joked that he has personal reasons for wanting to hold the rally in China soon.
"I said to one of the ministers ... 'You know, I can't wait forever. I'm getting old, you know? You’ve got to give me my chance.'"
If the rally is permitted in China, Palau said he plans to hold it in one of the major cities: Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, or Hangzhou.
In the meantime, Palau will be promoting his book, which released this month in the United States, and preparing for his next festival to be held March 14-15 in Buenos Aires, Argentina .
Palau's book was first released in China in August 2006 under the title, Riverside Talks: A Friendly Dialogue Between An Atheist and A Christian. In the book, Palau and Zhao Qizheng, an atheist and former spokesman for Communist China's Cabinet, share their unique perspectives on the Bible, philosophy of religion, history and politics. It became a national best-seller in China and is the first-ever book between a Chinese diplomat and a Christian evangelist.
Katherine T. Phan
Christian Post Reporter
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