China poised to become "World's MOST CHRISTIAN Nation" in 15 years as numbers grow exponentially.

[Cherokee]

We eastern religions and thought process ( Hinduism , buddhism , Sikhism , Confuciusm, Taoism etc) have a habit of selling ourself short to abhramanic religions ( Jewism , Christianity and Islam )

 

[Shabz Nist]

We eastern religions and thought process ( Hinduism , buddhism , Sikhism , Confuciusm, Taoism etc) have a habit of selling ourself short to abhramanic religions ( Jewism , Christianity and Islam )

Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism are not at all similar to Hinduism. While an argument can be made that Hinduism is a "way of life" -- it is really quite obsolete. It is a religion which is fast acquiring fundamentalist characteristics of Islam and medieval era Christianity. Meanwhile Confucianism, Taoism and even Buddhism have largely managed to retain their original characteristics (although, i wouldn't put my money on Buddhism for the long term) -- which is to say - schools of philosophy that advocate balanced living, peace and harmony.

 

[KingMamba]

That is simply not possible.
On its own Pakistan would have only 200 million people, less than Indonesia. On its own it will never have the overwhelming numbers, or overwhelming wealth, enough to be able to become the center of Islamic world. It would remain an important player, but never the leader.

With wealth I mean it will never become a global military powerhouse, it will never become an industrial powerhouse that exports most things to the world, it will never become the Center of finance like UAE is to Middle East.

It is India which will provide all of the above. And though India is a non Muslim majority nation, if we play smart, we can easily become a power of the Islamic world by leveraging our 180 million muslims, which basically means massive influence in the Middle East.

LOL wishful thinking and off topic so let us leave it.

 

[ephone]

That will be unlikely either.

China on course to become 'world's most Christian nation' within 15 years
The number of Christians in Communist China is growing so steadily that it by 2030 it could have more churchgoers than America

It is said to be China's biggest church and on Easter Sunday thousands of worshippers will flock to this Asian mega-temple to pledge their allegiance – not to the Communist Party, but to the Cross.

The 5,000-capacity Liushi church, which boasts more than twice as many seats as Westminster Abbey and a 206ft crucifix that can be seen for miles around, opened last year with one theologian declaring it a "miracle that such a small town was able to build such a grand church".

The £8 million building is also one of the most visible symbols of Communist China's breakneck conversion as it evolves into one of the largest Christian congregations on earth.

"It is a wonderful thing to be a follower of Jesus Christ. It gives us great confidence," beamed Jin Hongxin, a 40-year-old visitor who was admiring the golden cross above Liushi's altar in the lead up to Holy Week.

"If everyone in China believed in Jesus then we would have no more need for police stations. There would be no more bad people and therefore no more crime," she added.

Officially, the People's Republic of China is an atheist country but that is changing fast as many of its 1.3 billion citizens seek meaning and spiritual comfort that neither communism nor capitalism seem to have supplied.

Christian congregations in particular have skyrocketed since churches began reopening when Chairman Mao's death in 1976 signalled the end of the Cultural Revolution.

Less than four decades later, some believe China is now poised to become not just the world's number one economy but also its most numerous Christian nation.

"By my calculations China is destined to become the largest Christian country in the world very soon," said Fenggang Yang, a professor of sociology at Purdue University and author of Religion in China: Survival and Revival under Communist Rule.

"It is going to be less than a generation. Not many people are prepared for this dramatic change."

China's Protestant community, which had just one million members in 1949, has already overtaken those of countries more commonly associated with an evangelical boom. In 2010 there were more than 58 million Protestants in China compared to 40 million in Brazil and 36 million in South Africa, according to the Pew Research Centre's Forum on Religion and Public Life.

Prof Yang, a leading expert on religion in China, believes that number will swell to around 160 million by 2025. That would likely put China ahead even of the United States, which had around 159 million Protestants in 2010 but whose congregations are in decline.

By 2030, China's total Christian population, including Catholics, would exceed 247 million, placing it above Mexico, Brazil and the United States as the largest Christian congregation in the world, he predicted.

"Mao thought he could eliminate religion. He thought he had accomplished this," Prof Yang said. "It's ironic – they didn't. They actually failed completely."

Like many Chinese churches, the church in the town of Liushi, 200 miles south of Shanghai in Zhejiang province, has had a turbulent history.

It was founded in 1886 after William Edward Soothill, a Yorkshire-born missionary and future Oxford University professor, began evangelising local communities.

But by the late 1950s, as the region was engulfed by Mao's violent anti-Christian campaigns, it was forced to close.

Liushi remained shut throughout the decade of the Cultural Revolution that began in 1966, as places of worship were destroyed across the country.

Since it reopened in 1978 its congregation has gone from strength to strength as part of China's officially sanctioned Christian church – along with thousands of others that have accepted Communist Party oversight in return for being allowed to worship.

Today it has 2,600 regular churchgoers and holds up to 70 baptisms each year, according to Shi Xiaoli, its 27-year-old preacher. The parish's revival reached a crescendo last year with the opening of its new 1,500ft mega-church, reputedly the biggest in mainland China.

"Our old church was small and hard to find," said Ms Shi. "There wasn't room in the old building for all the followers, especially at Christmas and at Easter. The new one is big and eye-catching."

The Liushi church is not alone. From Yunnan province in China's balmy southwest to Liaoning in its industrial northeast, congregations are booming and more Chinese are thought to attend Sunday services each week than do Christians across the whole of Europe.

A recent study found that online searches for the words "Christian Congregation"and "Jesus" far outnumbered those for "The Communist Party" and "Xi Jinping", China's president.

Among China's Protestants are also many millions who worship at illegal underground "house churches", which hold unsupervised services – often in people's homes – in an attempt to evade the prying eyes of the Communist Party.

Such churches are mostly behind China's embryonic missionary movement – a reversal of roles after the country was for centuries the target of foreign missionaries. Now it is starting to send its own missionaries abroad, notably into North Korea, in search of souls.

"We want to help and it is easier for us than for British, South Korean or American missionaries," said one underground church leader in north China who asked not to be named.

The new spread of Christianity has the Communist Party scratching its head.

"The child suddenly grew up and the parents don't know how to deal with the adult," the preacher, who is from China's illegal house-church movement, said.

Some officials argue that religious groups can provide social services the government cannot, while simultaneously helping reverse a growing moral crisis in a land where cash, not Communism, has now become king.

They appear to agree with David Cameron, the British prime minister,who said last week that Christianity could help boost Britain's "spiritual, physical and moral" state.

Ms Shi, Liushi's preacher, who is careful to describe her church as "patriotic", said: "We have two motivations: one is our gospel mission and the other is serving society. Christianity can also play a role in maintaining peace and stability in society. Without God, people can do as they please."

Yet others within China's leadership worry about how the religious landscape might shape its political future, and its possible impact on the Communist Party's grip on power, despite the clause in the country's 1982 constitution that guarantees citizens the right to engage in "normal religious activities".

As a result, a close watch is still kept on churchgoers, and preachers are routinely monitored to ensure their sermons do not diverge from what the Party considers acceptable.

In Liushi church a closed circuit television camera hangs from the ceiling, directly in front of the lectern.

"They want the pastor to preach in a Communist way. They want to train people to practice in a Communist way," said the house-church preacher, who said state churches often shunned potentially subversive sections of the Bible. The Old Testament book in which the exiled Daniel refuses to obey orders to worship the king rather than his own god is seen as "very dangerous", the preacher added.

Such fears may not be entirely unwarranted. Christians' growing power was on show earlier this month when thousands flocked to defend a church in Wenzhou, a city known as the "Jerusalem of the East", after government threats to demolish it. Faced with the congregation's very public show of resistance, officials appear to have backed away from their plans, negotiating a compromise with church leaders.

"They do not trust the church, but they have to tolerate or accept it because the growth is there," said the church leader. "The number of Christians is growing – they cannot fight it. They do not want the 70 million Christians to be their enemy."

The underground leader church leader said many government officials viewed religion as "a sickness" that needed curing, and Prof Yang agreed there was a potential threat.

The Communist Party was "still not sure if Christianity would become an opposition political force" and feared it could be used by "Western forces to overthrow the Communist political system", he said.

Churches were likely to face an increasingly "intense" struggle over coming decade as the Communist Party sought to stifle Christianity's rise, he predicted.

"There are people in the government who are trying to control the church. I think they are making the last attempt to do that."

China on course to become 'world's most Christian nation' within 15 years - Telegraph

@Chinese-Dragon @Audio @Sinan @sweetgrape @Hyperion @AUz @pigtaker @Raphael @jkroo @xuxu1457 @cnleio @MarkusS @gambit@rcrmj@cirr

 

[jamal18]

A famous American psychic with a good track record predicted that China will become the largest christain nation. Edgar cayce, I think in the 1930's.

 

[Jlaw]

A famous American psychic with a good track record predicted that China will become the largest christain nation. Edgar cayce, I think in the 1930's.

Edgar Cayce like Nostradamus are fraudsters. I have read some of Nostradamus' stuff and they are too generalized to call them predictions. He uses many ambiguous words to try and increase his chances of getting his predictions right. It was a waste of my time.

Kacye is another fraudster who make his living conning people and appearing as a guest many times on the Coast to Coast show.

 

[xuxu1457]

My own experience：
1. My mother and grandmother are Christian in my village, my mother is 58years old now and became a Christian 30 years ago when I came to the world , and grandmother left the world when she was 78 years old 3 years ago. When my grandmother was alive, one room of her home was a "Mini Church" (my mother pay its Utility bills)，which was called "Secret underground church" by Western media, another very funny thing I heard from western media.

My village has 400people in Shandong province, about 10-15 of them are Christian, the average age of them are 65 years old, may be my mother is the youngest of them, all of them are female，and no one can be called “Pious”. In my first 19 years, I often went to the "MIni church"(the room of my grandmother, only about 10 old grandmother take part in pray at night of Monday, Wednesday and Friday) or a bigger church at the center of my county(at the morning of Sunday). In my village's mini church, I only play there and sometimes read bible or song about god for them, only my mother and another 63 years old female can read among 15 old female Christian. Most of the time, they only chat about family gossip and sometimes exercise to sing the song, and sometimes I will read bible for them. At the Morning of the Sunday, mother will take me to the bigger church of the county about 200 Christian, there will be some Pastors spell out the story in the Bible or outgiving some new song in Chinese, and I will get some snacks from my mother if I didn't make mischievous there. I love religions but I don't want be become a believer, and no one of them persuaded me join in even I play in the church and read bible many years for them. Grand mothers see the church or pray as joining a party just as younger go to bar, no one of them know the Pope or bishops, when I aksed my mother "which organization do you belong to？" “we belong to the county”, "and the county belong to?", "the province","and then?", "the country", "and then?", a natural look at me"the country class organization is the toppest 1 ", after I told her that the Pope act, mother said "there is no where Pope in bible, is he a liar?".

In Chinese opinion, mother is a believer, it has no any matter with his children, only her own hobby if she feels happy, and she never influences others on religion, and not the main role in here life or in her spirit, only 1/10 of her spirit. My grandmother has 6children and mother has 3 children, none of them become a believer now. I love religions but I don't want to become a believer of any religions now, bcs I feel I still needn't it now, Tradition opinion tells Chinese feel that only weak people on spirit need the help of religions, if you are strong on spirit, you believe yourself and the moral.

2. Most East Asian can't be a Pious believers, half of South Korean christian never went to church in the past 10 years, only see it as a fashion. Ancestor worship is a part of life and a part of life, no matter you are a believer of religion or not. From the Mental status， as Confucius said the order is “天（sky）地（earth）君(country)亲(parents)师(teacher)”， so sky and earth means the world, then the country, then parents, and your teacher, since Confucius is a teacher not a religious originator, and he also said that "敬鬼神而远之" “Respect all the ghosts and gods, but stay a distance of them ”, believe all thing and believe nothing on gods and ghosts.

 

[Aepsilons]

Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism are not at all similar to Hinduism. While an argument can be made that Hinduism is a "way of life" -- it is really quite obsolete. It is a religion which is fast acquiring fundamentalist characteristics of Islam and medieval era Christianity. Meanwhile Confucianism, Taoism and even Buddhism have largely managed to retain their original characteristics (although, i wouldn't put my money on Buddhism for the long term) -- which is to say - schools of philosophy that advocate balanced living, peace and harmony.

I would actually like to add that Confucianism is not a religion, but a philosophical way of life, the same as Taoism (Daoism). Confucianism teaches about personal responsibility, loyalty to the family, and the state. As well as teaches about the principles filial piety. An aethiest can ascribe to confucian and taoist principles. Taoism is not a religion so to say, but merely a philosophy that teaches participants to cherish the 3 treasures: compassion, humility and moderation. It is erroneous to compare this with Buddhism and Hinduism, which are religions with different perspectives and precepts.

 

[jkroo]

I would actually like to add that Confucianism is not a religion, but a philosophical way of life, the same as Taoism (Daoism). Confucianism teaches about personal responsibility, loyalty to the family, and the state. As well as teaches about the principles filial piety. An aethiest can ascribe to confucian and taoist principles. Taoism is not a religion so to say, but merely a philosophy that teaches participants to cherish the 3 treasures: compassion, humility and moderation. It is erroneous to compare this with Buddhism and Hinduism, which are religions with different perspectives and precepts.

You are right about Confuciusm is a philosophical way of life in a certain degree. But you are totally wrong about Taoism. Taoism is a religion with all features of religion.

 

[Aepsilons]

Within Confucianism, the five constants are: Ren (humanness), Yi (justice), Li (proper rite), Zhi (knowledge), Xin (integrity). And then there are the four virtues: Zhong (loyalty), Xiao (filial piety), Jie (continency) and Yi (righteousness).These principles are tenets for civic duty. In fact, the teachings of Kong Fuzu (Confucius) are imbedded in North East Asian socities such as Japan, Korea and China, and to an extent even Vietnam.

I just wanted to add these points.

 

[dlclong]

Christianity is step by step to destroy our culture.
It is loved by Westerners.
When Christianity spread in Tibet, I saw Western countries say it is the China government to destroy Tibetan culture, but the spread of Christianity in the Han provinces, when Westerners did not say so.
Everything westernized.
I am opposed to Western-style Christianity.
What we need is Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism.
If you spread Christianity in China, it should be in China style, just as Buddhism.

 

[cirr]

Why am I not aware of this？

I have some 300 friends、colleagues and business acquaintances on my weixin（WeChat）contact list。

Only two of them are Christian and both are Korean Chinese。

Gee，I must do something to stay ”trendy“。

 

[Aepsilons]

Why am I not aware of this？

I have some 300 friends、colleagues and business acquaintances on my weixin（WeChat）contact list。

Only two of them are Christian and both are Korean Chinese。

Gee，I must do something to stay ”trendy“。

Hahaha, you use WeChat , too ? That's really good, much better than Ovoo and Skype.

As for Korea, Christianity is growing in that country, in fact where I live now (NJ, USA), there are a lot of Koreans and there are several Korean Methodist Churches here. It suits them, I think because Christianity , particularly Protestant denominations, preaches about productivity and the Protestant work ethic. This is complementary for Koreans because they are naturally very productive people. One of my classmates in my Ph.D cohort is Korean, she's finishing her Ph.D in Neuroscience -- and she's active in the Neumann Association (it is a Catholic student association) in our college campus. Very pleasant lady, and not shy to talk about her faith.

 

[Shabz Nist]

My own experience：
1. My mother and grandmother are Christian in my village, my mother is 58years old now and became a Christian 30 years ago when I came to the world , and grandmother left the world when she was 78 years old 3 years ago. When my grandmother was alive, one room of her home was a "Mini Church" (my mother pay its Utility bills)，which was called "Secret underground church" by Western media, another very funny thing I heard from western media.

My village has 400people in Shandong province, about 10-15 of them are Christian, the average age of them are 65 years old, may be my mother is the youngest of them, all of them are female，and no one can be called “Pious”. In my first 19 years, I often went to the "MIni church"(the room of my grandmother, only about 10 old grandmother take part in pray at night of Monday, Wednesday and Friday) or a bigger church at the center of my county(at the morning of Sunday). In my village's mini church, I only play there and sometimes read bible or song about god for them, only my mother and another 63 years old female can read among 15 old female Christian. Most of the time, they only chat about family gossip and sometimes exercise to sing the song, and sometimes I will read bible for them. At the Morning of the Sunday, mother will take me to the bigger church of the county about 200 Christian, there will be some Pastors spell out the story in the Bible or outgiving some new song in Chinese, and I will get some snacks from my mother if I didn't make mischievous there. I love religions but I don't want be become a believer, and no one of them persuaded me join in even I play in the church and read bible many years for them. Grand mothers see the church or pray as joining a party just as younger go to bar, no one of them know the Pope or bishops, when I aksed my mother "which organization do you belong to？" “we belong to the county”, "and the county belong to?", "the province","and then?", "the country", "and then?", a natural look at me"the country class organization is the toppest 1 ", after I told her that the Pope act, mother said "there is no where Pope in bible, is he a liar?".

In Chinese opinion, mother is a believer, it has no any matter with his children, only her own hobby if she feels happy, and she never influences others on religion, and not the main role in here life or in her spirit, only 1/10 of her spirit. My grandmother has 6children and mother has 3 children, none of them become a believer now. I love religions but I don't want to become a believer of any religions now, bcs I feel I still needn't it now, Tradition opinion tells Chinese feel that only weak people on spirit need the help of religions, if you are strong on spirit, you believe yourself and the moral.

2. Most East Asian can't be a Pious believers, half of South Korean christian never went to church in the past 10 years, only see it as a fashion. Ancestor worship is a part of life and a part of life, no matter you are a believer of religion or not. From the Mental status， as Confucius said the order is “天（sky）地（earth）君(country)亲(parents)师(teacher)”， so sky and earth means the world, then the country, then parents, and your teacher, since Confucius is a teacher not a religious originator, and he also said that "敬鬼神而远之" “Respect all the ghosts and gods, but stay a distance of them ”, believe all thing and believe nothing on gods and ghosts.

Most Christians do not acknowledge the authority of the pope. The pope is exclusive to Catholicism which is only ONE of the denominations in Christianity. Its erroneous to think that the pope has authority or even a voice in Christianity except Catholicism.

 

[Aepsilons]

Most Christians do not acknowledge the authority of the pope. The pope is exclusive to Catholicism which is only ONE of the denominations in Christianity. Its erroneous to think that the pope has authority or even a voice in Christianity except Catholicism.

That's precisely correct. The difference in ecclesiastical methodologies ; the Catholic emphasis of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition being the emanation of Truth is a stark contrast to Protestant Christianity. Namely, Protestant Christian denominations abide by what Martin Luther coined as Sola Scriptura (In Scripture Alone) emphasis. Then again, I don't want to go in further detail because I don't want to go into Christian Theology ...

I just want to add on to the point that you made; namely that it is only in Roman Catholicism that the Pope, as the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, meaning as the apostolic heir of Peter, has an influential voice in matters of Catholic doctrine, and Catholic Church activities. Despite the Great Schism that divided Catholic and the Orthodox Churches, the Patriarchs in Orthodoxy Primacies do consider the Pope as a equal amongst Bishops.

So it is erroneous to think that Christians in China will necessarily abide what the Pope says. If these Christians are mostly abiding by Sola Scriptura, then like many Protestants, will emphasize an individualistic interpretation to Scripture, rather than rely on dogmatic theology seen in more orthodox churches.

Regards,