Posted on 06/10/2008 10:04:42 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Religious Boom in China after Quake
JUNE 10, 2008 08:31
As religious gatherings for the victims of the Sichuan earthquake are being held in large scales, the Chinese Communist Party is worrying about a possible explosive increase in religious population. The party is tolerating such religious events in consideration of public sentiment for now, but is known to be jittery about the possibility of uncontrollable trouble.
▽ Worships and Buddhist service for earthquake victims
The Buddhist Association of China held a large-scale service for those who were killed or displaced by the earthquake on May 14, two days after the disaster occurred, at Guangji Temple in Beijing, and also organized a Sutra-reciting prayer ceremony five days later.
Yonghegong Lama, a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing, also held a prayer service to wish victims an easy passage to eternity.
Lianhe Zaobao, a Singaporean newspaper, reported that all kinds of religious groups, including Buddhists, Catholics, Christians, Muslims and Taoists, are stepping forward and hold large-scale gatherings for the spirits of the victims.
▽ Sense of uncertainty increased the number of believers
The Chinese government has never disclosed statistics on the country’s religious population. According to data from China`s state news agency Xinhua and Baidu, China`s most popular search engine, the State Religious Affairs Bureau estimates that there are about 100 million believers.
However, a poll of 4,500 Chinese men and women aged 16 and older conducted by a professor at Huadong Teachers` University in Shanghai in 2005 revealed that the number of believers in the country is estimated to be around 300 million, almost triple the government figure.
Experts say that such an explosive increase in religious population, which stood at just 20 to 30 million before the 1978 market opening of the country, is caused by the increasing number of people feeling a sense of uncertainty about their future in the market economy, different from the planned economy, which had guaranteed basic livelihoods for them. Another reason is believed to be the increasing gap in income and wealth among people.
Furthermore, there are circulating rumors that “a disaster comes on the day that the sum of month and date equals eight, as in the case with the bloody protest for independence of Tibet on March 14 and the Sichuan earthquake on May 12” or that “a massive flood will come next.” These rumors are also prompting people worried about their safety to seek religious facilities.
▽ Worries about side effects
China provides the constitutional freedom of religion but has controlled religion in reality, by stipulating, “Religions shall not destroy social order or foreign forces shall not dominate religions.”
However, the Chinese government even permitted missionary work by Taiwanese Buddhists so that those displaced from the earthquake can find consolation and prevent their discontentment from spiraling into rage.
But, as those victims increasingly are flocking to religious facilities in the disaster area and religious groups are holding prayer events one after another, Beijing is reportedly agonizing over countermeasures against potential side effects, expressing concern that the spreading religious boom could shake up its ruling structure.
However, a leading researcher at Shanghai University assessed the situation positively, saying, “(The prayer event boom) shows Chinese people’s respect for life and openness to religion.”
Ping!
hmmm interesting.
This has to instill fear in an officially atheistic regime.
What can they do if people want to pray or turn to religion after such a terrible disaster? Gee, one day the Chinese people may collectively decide they don’t need the Communist party anymore. As China goes down the road to capitalistic reforms, their control is weakening.
Who knows? On Jan. 1, 1989, how many of us would have thought that communism would be overthrown or on the way out in all of the Soviet satellite countries in eastern Europe before that year was over? China may be closer than we think to seeing political reform to go along with their free market reforms.
It’s all about the ruling structure to the ChiComs. Or any commies. Who cares about the dead and injured? Who cares about millions homeless and still endangered by possible dam breaches? It’s the ruling structure that might be damaged!!! Heartless heathens.
I think the world would be amazed at how many of them are Christian.
I think that says it all.
Who did they ask to get this kind of explanation? There are a few things that I think are much more of a factor.
1. Chinese have always been spiritual, and that never went away. Now it is just becoming more public again.
2. China is becoming more decentralized than ever, and people can get away with publicizing their faith more.
3. The Chinese government themselves have inadvertently increased knowledge and appreciation of religion by opening up ancient monasteries, temples, and other sites with religious meaning to tourists.
4. Chinese people are becoming much more aware of what life is like outside China, and know that religion is not dead in other places.
[...]
But, as those victims increasingly are flocking to religious facilities in the disaster area and religious groups are holding prayer events one after another, Beijing is reportedly agonizing over countermeasures against potential side effects, expressing concern that the spreading religious boom could shake up its ruling structure.
It will, but not yet. Right now the average Chinese just wants to improve their economic situation, and the government can satisfy them. But there will come a time, like in Poland, that people will want something more. The government will have nothing to offer them, except to finally give them religious freedom.
Thought this might interest you.
They want a new Messiah and a new religion in their life.
Communism's true enemy is not Capitalism, but an organized religion.
Besides, Communism is no longer able to project a Messianic appeal.
May the prince of China be bound and gagged, and may the light of the Gospel shine in the hearts of its unbelieving leaders. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pray for the people of China, and for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ who are there as well...
They are all precious to God.
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