Growth of Christianity in China Hit a Great Wall



There is a rule in the affairs of nations (well not a rule actually, I just made it up) that when religion and politics conflict with each other, no one can predict the outcome. That conflict is going on, not only in the U.S., in many places around the world. One is China. A story about a Christian preacher, a Chinese citizen, who is in jail for preaching Christianity is a case in point. 

Catholics wanted bishops in China appointed the same way they are appointed everywhere else in the world. That is by the Pope and Vatican. The Chinese government decided the majority of Bishops in the Chinese Catholic Church would be appointed by the ruling government. Bishops need to be loyal supporters of the People's Party. It's obvious that if Christian numbers do rise in China it will be a version of the faith different from that in other areas of the world.

Add to that a world-wide loss of interest by people under 25 years of age and we have the Great Wall stopping large growth of Christianity in China. Propagandists in the faith will no doubt keep repeating the company line there is a great future. That seems unlikely.

Atheists and Christians have different approaches for spreading their views around the globe. Christians are spending countless millions. Atheists are spending nothing. Whatever happens will happen because of changes in societies and spending money will have little to no effect. 

 

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