Achilles 1-1
Destined Among Shadows: The Indama Chronicles.
- 21 Aug 2024
- 1,041
- 589
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
We don't sell bibles, we give it to them for freeeThat's a matter of debate - most other religions don't feel the need to convert others (nor do most of the committed Christians whom I'm friendly with for that matter). I know that spreading the good news is thought to be an integral part of your religion, but handing out bibles in a non-Christian country seems an extraordinarily ham-fisted way of going about it. And with the views that conservative US Christians hold regarding abortion and their support of a politician whose behaviour rejects the values of Christianity in every way (while making money from selling bibles!), I think China's behaviour was an overreaction rather than fundamentally wrong.
It IS a matter of debate! Anyway, point taken about being off topic. This will be my last post in this thread. But someone did bring up the topic of imprisoning people giving out bibles, which come to think of it isn't about communism. See the point I made about totalitarianism and communism overlapping so much that it's pointless discussing it.No its not. No more of this, please. This is about communis. Friendly reminder to please stay on topic (not to sound like @thomas or anything…)
Thank you for the useful information. Perhaps I can start a ministry in china if I chose that path.Derek,
Chinese communists actually allow Christian churches to exist in China, and to hold services on Sundays. Christianity is even one of the five religions officially allowed in Communist China. (By the way, Hinduism is not one of the five religions allowed in Communist China, so I guess if anyone tried to establish a Hindu temple in Communist China, they would be arrested.)
An important fact to note is that it is not religious activity that the communists have a problem with. (As a matter of fact, the communists have actually been encouraging religious activity in China because Chinese people have become so "ungodly" and lacking in morals.)
But the thing the communists demand is that they have absolute, total control over every tiny aspect of Chinese society. Yes, there are Christian churches in China, but they are closely controlled by the communists. Every church has a controlling committee, there is a communist person who is on the committee, and the communist person has the final say as to all decisions made by the committee.
There was a recent Christian rally in a public park in a city in China, but the rally was not approved of beforehand by the communists, so many of the people were arrested.
Another thing is how the communists have been closing churches and tearing down the crosses of other churches that they have allowed to remain open. (This has been happening a lot in the city of Wenzhou in Eastern China, which has a number of Christian churches.) Christian churches are known for their 'freedom' where anyone can walk in, sit down, and talk about Christianity. The communists hate anything that comes anywhere near the idea of freedom, so they have been harassing and clamping down on these churches in Wenzhou. (The communists even want to control the process by which people walk into a Christian church and ask about Christianity.)
(As a side note, it is extremely difficult for a person to become a member of the Chinese Communist Party. An applicant has to attend lectures and write papers. It is just like going to college. Most applicants fail on their first attempt to join the Party because it is so difficult. The vast majority of Chinese people are not members of the Party.)
Chinese communism is even more horrific than most people realize.
The purpose behind modern missionary work is not to recruit new members so much as it is to cement the missionary's convictions that the world is a wicked place full of mean people and the only source of support and love is their church. It's more about solidifying the missionary's reliance and dependence on the church.That's a matter of debate - most other religions don't feel the need to convert others (nor do most of the committed Christians whom I'm friendly with for that matter). I know that spreading the good news is thought to be an integral part of your religion, but handing out bibles in a non-Christian country seems an extraordinarily ham-fisted way of going about it. And with the views that conservative US Christians hold regarding abortion and their support of a politician whose behaviour rejects the values of Christianity in every way (while making money from selling bibles!), I think China's behaviour was an overreaction rather than fundamentally wrong.
Some of it anyway. I've met some fantastic Christians who have contributed enormously to society because they see it as a natural response to their relationship with their god. Such people tend to let you know that they are Christians and leave it at that. I have the greatest of respect for them. In fact, arguably the best-known person in the rather niche world of copyediting and proofreading that I live in is such a person.The purpose behind modern missionary work is not to recruit new members so much as it is to cement the missionary's convictions that the world is a wicked place full of mean people and the only source of support and love is their church. It's more about solidifying the missionary's reliance and dependence on the church.
Doesn't matter. It's fine that you got in here again.Some of it anyway. I've met some fantastic Christians who have contributed enormously to society because they see it as a natural response to their relationship with their god. Such people tend to let you know that they are Christians and leave it at that. I have the greatest of respect for them. In fact, arguably the best-known person in the rather niche world of copyediting and proofreading that I live in is such a person.
Sorry, derekiscool - I said I wouldn't butt in again, but I am being nice about Christians!
I love that for you! Most of the time I don't mention my religion (also being a Christian) because i recognize there is a time and place and I feel that actions speak louder than words.Some of it anyway. I've met some fantastic Christians who have contributed enormously to society because they see it as a natural response to their relationship with their god. Such people tend to let you know that they are Christians and leave it at that. I have the greatest of respect for them. In fact, arguably the best-known person in the rather niche world of copyediting and proofreading that I live in is such a person.
Sorry, derekiscool - I said I wouldn't butt in again, but I am being nice about Christians!