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145018 2010 年 06 月 23 日 14:28 Reading (loading. ..) Comments (0) Category: Personal Diary
Editor's Note: February 25, 2008 and March 24, Professor Yu Jianrong of the Chinese Academy of Social rural Luoyang in Henan Province and Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou City, respectively, and the the development of the current issues of Christianity. Articles published in the following summary for reference.
Yu Jianrong (hereinafter referred to): October 2007, I went to the Yulin area in Shaanxi Province surveyed underground religion. January 2008, I visited China from Beijing to send back to Luoyang Songxian Liu Xueli, in the village they saw a very large Christian church, can accommodate one thousand. According to reports, they built a county in recent years to more than 70 cathedrals, and some have five or six a cathedral town, up to tens of thousands of religious people. This surprised me. This time we came to Luoyang and Wenzhou, is to understand Christianity in the Central Plains and the coastal economically developed rural areas, development areas and the religious people of various conditions, to study the causes and social consequences of them. You are Christians, but also the Church of the teacher training courses, in some cases than we know you, hope you do that for us.
Iraq days of the original (hereinafter referred to as Iraq): The Professor Yu in Luoyang, I'm glad to see, I've read what you write, Change Zhang Yaojie teacher and I are friends, together we have discussed issues related to Christianity. This time I thought Beijing would have to visit you, that you listen to Zhang in Henan to investigate, and just some things I have in Zhengzhou, I went to Zhengzhou. Later, I heard you come to Luoyang, I rushed to the scene. I had studied law at university, now mainly in Anhui, Zhejiang, some ), and so on. In some cases the church I understand, also looking like you have the scientific spirit and integrity of the exchange of scholars, so that is good for the public to understand Christianity.
on: How is called It and the Your
Iraq: In general, there are three broad faction of Christianity: Protestant, Orthodox, Catholic. In China, the general said that Protestant Christianity is the past, people have also called Jesus taught. We discuss here is Protestant. Chinese Christian Church can be divided into Christian leaders published in 1950 YT Wu,
China is the main body of the Christian However, in the The so-called Wenzhou is an independent representative of the Church. Wenzhou called
to my personal observation, The following chapters will have to listen to the mother, and it is often the background of belief charismatic tendencies. The expansion of the church as to the other places, you need the money, then the church through some of the channels to find financial support from abroad. Government is panic anxiety, to combat. But more strikes, more outward missionary expansion to increase its power, and foreign churches are hit the more it increases the intensity of support. So it is a virtuous cycle is formed, while constantly against the government, while continuous flow of foreign money into, then it will continue to develop. So often this type of church and politics have been involved. This type is mainly distributed in the church, and Anhui, Henan, central zone, we call heresy often arise in the context of this church. The complexity within the church is far from the outside world can imagine, the Government should understand this distinction between the Church and have, or religious policy will be a deviation.
federal decentralization model another local church types, including Between this type of church affiliation is not on the lower level, each church is independent, is a complete self-government body. At the same time there are links between the church, there are coordinating bodies responsible for the region between the church's internal affairs. So the church can not build a centralized system, the team type, and must reflect the characteristics of federalism.
emphasizing a mutual independence of the church itself, therefore, (1) stressed belief in independence, not willing to cooperate with the government in matters of faith, so it is a too much contact, do not want to dominate by foreigners, than the formation of foreign dependence on the Church in the capital, the emphasis on the true Church of independence, self-support, autobiography.
the current church in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, there are many other areas of the country have some. Wenzhou church is largely the case. The Director of the Church and the Church stressed the separation of preachers, churches and pastors the right to separate from the executive power. Wenzhou pastoral of the Church originated in to form what we call the independent church or registered church.
Because of this independent churches emphasize the independence of the church itself, it is still local,
nike air force one high, not national liaison system, there is no recognized national leader.
official seminaries such as Nanjing Jinling Theological Seminary in Zhejiang culture minister and other key in the have their own training courses. Major training preachers. Preachers need to systematically study courses related to theology and the humanities in general to learn for two years.
Cheng Mu lines (hereinafter referred to Cheng): the church in the city, there is a special form, that the city emerging church. Emerging Church is a city with the traditional The last 15 years due to urbanization and the development of commodity economy, in the city appeared to the young Christian-based church. The church has several features -
First, the church to young people. Relatively speaking, the higher their educational level, some churches there is a large number of intellectuals. Relative to the older generation, young people, law, literature, sociology of knowledge are more narrow-minded thinking, unlike the older generation as closed, but more open. They and the community, and intellectuals, the dialogue with the government easier, not listen to the views of other groups. Relatively rural
Second,
nike air force one, mainly young people, almost all born in the 1970s and beyond, they are not the same as with the older generation, and the Relatively small number of people and not attached to other more However, although independent of the From here, in fact, the traditional
Third, from the region, the city of new churches in major cities throughout the country. Especially in Beijing, so the church everywhere. Shanghai, the city instead of less number of new churches. The emerging church is very much the number of people, far more than
in: According to you said, Why did this happen?
Iraq: Certainly not the government now to the figures released. According to national statistics from related departments, to 2000, more than 1,600 people of Christian believers. This figure is too old, no longer accurate. State Bureau of Religious Affairs in his speech,
air force one high, once estimated that within the country has 130 million Christians, we believe that this figure seriously exaggerated. Today, the 3,000 million. Now we often said that 100 million people. Chinese Christians mainly in Henan, Anhui, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai and Fujian in east China.
(1) the local government can not truthfully report;
(2) in some places the time of registration to collect money for Religious Affairs, the faithful do not want to pay to;
(3) and some Christians believe that faith is something of God, not earthly things, so do not want to government agencies for registration.
in: I agree with you on the number of comparative analysis. 100 million Christians in China is about more accurate. Christians in some areas of Henan, 10% of the total population. And are nearly 10 years to develop. 1998 county of the sailor back to his hometown in Hunan Province began to preach the gospel, to 1698 in 2006, he developed a religious person. I have seen a material, said Christians in China more than 1 million each day. That is, 1-year increase down to a few hundred people. Religious Affairs Bureau statistics the number of believers were registered in two baptized persons, excluding the Of believers identification can be difficult to reach a unified standard, it was thought he was not baptized Christians; was regularly participate in church activities, reported a favorable impression of Christianity, but still hovered at the entrance of Christianity; This is the number of Christians in a place difficult to make accurate statistical reasons.
although specific figures have different views, but the Christian rapid development in recent years have had a consensus on this point. Now the Christian community is an important reason for concern is that this rapid growth. Do you think the main reason for the rapid growth of Christianity is what?
Iraq: the People's Republic was founded, the number of 100 million Christians around the early 80s until the 20th century, this period of time, the number has reached 10 million. But from the late 1980s to the present, in a short period of time less than 20 years, the number of believers has soared to a million. Of course, rapid growth in the called. The reasons for this are complex.
needs from the perspective of faith, the new China was founded, those in power in various ways to restrict people on the traditional religious beliefs, and forcing people to atheism to communism as based on faith. Although the visible part is the impact of religious belief was falling apart,
nike air force 1, and people's religious ideas have not been eliminated. In this sense, can be said that the development of Christianity,
from the social side, people's living standards, peace and stable living conditions, people on the spiritual life demands increases. Moreover, since the growing rich-poor divide in Chinese society and serious social problems, for public and increasing stress, people need the solace of religion.
There is also a most important reason is the driving force within Christianity. Provisions of the teachings of Christianity: the gospel of Jesus Christ handed down when the resurrection and ascension of the Great Commission believers spreading the gospel requires; to Rural Development of Christianity. Farmers is difficult to see a doctor, medical equipment, rural poor, the patient is difficult to pay high medical expenses, so that patients and their families tend to have recovered their faith in the grace of God, especially believers preach: will be good
on: Exactly. There was a religious cleric said to me, more than 80% of Christians are sick because their families only believers. This is also the number of patients in rural Christians a major feature.
Christianity as I survey the rural situation, the social function of rural church is also very attractive. Rural church is very different and urban churches, rural churches strong social function. The followers are mostly church neighborhood, relatives, or other familiar person village, who are willing to gather in the slack time to the church, believers engage in a heart to heart, conversation, Bible study, etc., but also often held at this time the church music programs, classes , chanting classes and other activities, the more cultural and recreational activities for the rural poor, the Church of lonely people is very attractive.
In addition, the concept of rural areas is also very strong team of believers, the faithful love to each other, is also very obvious that if a certain followers of accidents at home or have difficulties, other believers will spontaneously organize themselves, to give free assistance and care. The most common is the ability to complete busy workload in the fields without the faithful believers in other families are often selfless help of farm operations ahead of schedule, and some believers even delayed its own farm, but also happy to help.
this social function of rural churches is very attractive, especially for non-policyholders, living alone and lonely person.
Zheng: Family boost power resistance also exist. 80 to 90 years of the 20th century, rural women, many believers in the phenomenon occurs (now the situation there.) In general, rural women's status at home is not high, and some even by her husband and her in-laws of the bundle, the early part of the women followers withstand heavy pressure at home, especially for the church dedication of property, free of charge to help other believers, sometimes also be influenced by non-believers and even beaten her husband's abuse. But the strong women of faith to show a broad mind, and more quietly at home, work, caring for her in-laws, child care, get rid of past smoking, drinking, gambling and other vices; particularly in the event of an accident at home, by other believers selfless help; home patients who pray in faith under the illness and so on. These are gradually influence the non-religious family, some families are not opposed to religion and devotion, some women will be gospel to his family. Song County, Luoyang, several religious women to talk about such experiences, but there was surnamed Li's followers also proud to say that she has the gospel to her husband and her in-laws, and now they are Christians.
Iraq: with a more concrete understanding of social phenomena to the development of Christianity, motivated by social pressure is also very important. Religious groups, rural youth now began to appear, most of these people and their elders under the influence of infection, frequent contact with Christian teachings and witness more and have a good impression of Christianity and Christian consciously or unconsciously.
but many more young people because of religious sensibilities, generally do not take the initiative to open their own beliefs, and rarely to the church, worried that other peers laugh at them, The invisible social pressure to motivate their peers to seek aficionados, friends, religious persuasion, to achieve the same recognition status. Especially to the married stage, one faith to the marriage are generally strongly preach the gospel to live together in the future have a common ambition.
I contacted some young believers to demonstrate such a confusion, but also feel that their strong faith, and friends to the marriage and the determination of the Gospel.
on: In fact, these are rural areas with the current state of the more liberal Christian management linked. Local religious authorities generally believe that the current focus of the work of Religious Affairs is not worried about the rapid increase in believers, but to guide believers love the country, maintaining social stability and harmony. If it is found in a village more than 50 people at family gatherings, religious authority and the cadres will take the initiative to contact the local believers, permitting them to build churches; if the number of small churches do not have to establish the conditions, they will hold local thinking of doing the work of these believers, leading them to the regular church activities until the conditions are ripe will immediately approve the establishment of a new church.
is appropriate because of the policy space to enable the new village churches have sprung up. In turn, the increase of the church and attract other non-believers church, believers in the church warm temperature, especially in villages without churches, believers in order to establish the church in the village will be more proactive in the development of new members.
Iraq: Speaking of the Church in the development of the role of believers, should pay attention to distinguish the In general, the expansion of the church, for the clergy and the church is beneficial economically, this type of church for the team even more apparent.
on: We basically know the current discussion of all aspects of the Christian reason for rapid growth. The question now is how to understand and correct understanding of this rapid growth. Now there are many people worry that the Christian way to develop, in particular the rapid expansion in rural areas, will constitute the traditional culture shock will shake the Chinese nation's fundamental?
Iraq: There is a lot of people to the development of Christianity as a cultural expansion, a scourge. In fact, this view is wrong. Chinese scholars on the nature of traditional cultural content has not been clearly defined. For example, the original and official Confucianism Confucianism which can represent the traditional culture? Confucianism from the original point of view, after the Qin Confucian culture ceased to exist, the real history is the official representative of Confucianism. Therefore, what need to be defined which represent the traditional culture.
In fact, traditional Chinese culture have long been the influence of Christianity. China has never unified, ideological, and this is the reason there have been peasant uprisings. Europe, India has a unified ideology, so the little peasant uprising. Unlike in China, there are two kinds of official ideology of civil ideology and ideological conflict. Official ideology, no religious intellectual elite ideological demands of transcendence, too much emphasis on the pursuit of practical utility. Folk ideology, to the Christian of the Zoroastrian (ie, Zoroastrianism, or Zoroastrian) / Manichaeism as the foundation, together with India, Mahayana Buddhism, the Pure Land of Maitreya teaches a tremendous impact, the formation of a stressed Christ, emphasizing the rebellious ideology. From the opening angle, Zhang's Yellow Turban uprising to the Heavenly Kingdom, the same strain. So up and down China's ideological conflict there. Later, outside the traditional Chinese folk religious beliefs to absorb the entire melt, to form a more complete - the mid-Ming Luo Qing (1442 ~ 1527) the creation of the Luo Sect. Its basic doctrine is: All this theory,
nike air force 1 high, and Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism are closely related, and Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism and Christianity are closely related.
So, in my view, this problem is a pseudo-problem, there is no generally accepted that the root of traditional Chinese culture, because of its own never appeared. Han, Tang, Song, Ming and Qing culture, a large gap between itself, unlike countries such as Britain and France have a relatively unified cultural system. Essential characteristics of Chinese culture is, I do not see it.
Zheng: I am more in favor of the days of the original made by the Iraqi point of view. Long time, we caught a misunderstanding, that is sacred to the traditional culture, traditional culture that is holy, is the truth, it's position in Chinese culture can not be shaken. Is not so.
traditional culture has a lot of dross of things, such as its high profile in the moral construction of modern democratic governance impact, especially in the human personality into a gentleman villain, and because that Heaven can be one The resulting lack of the spirit of love and self-examination state of mind, the happiness of the Chinese people with great harm. If the impact of traditional culture is, that it must face the situation. If it is brought to its knees after the impact, and the disappearance into a terrible state, can not blame Christianity, can not blame those who hold the Christian faith.
that the traditional culture of the sacred, in fact, is the conservatism of the mask, the inner world of nationalism. In my opinion, traditional culture was so profound influence on our ancestors, so it is so important to do what their doing, not thinking much more vast inner world, nationalism itself is a closed state. It can be said, when knowing that the traditional culture of Chinese people today can not provide spiritual protection of the overall well-being, but must adhere to it, the traditional culture in contemporary China is the sole legitimacy of nationalism - and strictly speaking is a cultural nationalism.
We know that cultural nationalism can in certain circumstances the development of political nationalism and extreme nationalism. We must remain vigilant. Christianity into China and influence people, in fact, digestion of the various negative factors of nationalism. China's modernization and those who think people should be encouraged by this.
the world we live in today is not static it? We are talking about Chinese culture today, is not it has grown to an end? Those who were difficult to justify on traditional culture, is that many of today's material and cultural phenomenon in China, has been considered part of traditional culture, or we no longer think it is Western or traditional things. Former instead of the traditional things, but now become a traditional part of the culture. Traditional culture has been generated in the change in the Warring States Period, who understand the traditional culture, is hard to say who is the Spring and Autumn when the traditional understanding of culture. In my opinion, the traditional collective memory of a nation is entirely a state. As long as this nation that this culture is a part of their collective memory, this culture is traditional.
today, the From Morrison (1807 year of the first Christian missionary priest in China, British, 1782 ~ 1834), counting the times, the history of Christianity into China has over 201 years, as long as our minds open to sound, but it can be read for China's traditional culture.
the above sense, the abstract meaning of conservative is not about traditional culture. If you need to think about what kind of power to unite people of political community, identity, in my opinion, should be based on the modern civil rights-based national political system, that is, love, self-reflection, tolerance is a core value system Construction. Like many federal, state, select a different culture, but we all love this country.
I think today's Chinese scholars and statesmen should be to point to transfer to this area, not into Christmas by the public power to resist such a ridiculous thing to go. In this regard, some of fundamentalist Confucianism must be self-examination.
on: It should be said, your analysis is a grain of truth. I have many rural survey found that in some places for Christians, some of the teachings of the Christian mode of expression with a couplet. Although this is a form, but if you go to study its contents, to find this form of Chinese culture promotion of Christianity but also in the content of what Chinese culture. For example, with Some of those who preach the gospel, believes that Christian doctrine is not only consistent with traditional Chinese culture, and culture of the Chinese Communist Party is also linked together, and even said that the CPC is based on the basis of Marxism is the Christian culture. How do you know this problem?
Iraq: This question depends on two aspects. European Communist Party, Social Democratic Party has an open mind, allowing the Christian party in their personal capacity. Social Democratic Party platform in some, such as the German Social Democratic Party, in Brandt (Willy Brandt, 1913 ~ 1992) on the abolition of the age limit for the faith. One is the theory of man-made, one is God's revelation, which is two levels of things that do not conflict. Communist China for the same level this flattening, both confusion, so a dilemma. From the theoretical point of view, the issue that should not exist.
Marx was born in a Christian family background is Lutheran, raised communisty Marxist term, with the German farmers, and religious reform of the war. Marx before the Weite Lin ((Wilhelm Weitling, 1808 ~ 1871)), emphasis on building a harmonious communist, but he is a devout Christian. In one sense, Marxist theory is secular system of Christian doctrine.
why Marx was opposed to Christianity? In fact, he opposed the Lutheran type of Christianity, because the Lutheran Church to obey the State stressed, the only state in-laws, it is Marx, Engels hated. But we see the Anglo-American countries, no one has ever said internal affairs, emphasizing the religious support for the role of a healthy personality is the only independent authority against secular forces. In this context, we evaluated the religion is positive.
not the same in Germany - emphasize the rule of the Church as a temporal power tools, features, Marx hated it. Orthodox even more so, stress the importance of personal spiritual mystical unity with God, emphasize personal non-intervention community, so the community can not, and Lenin also hate this. Therefore, they have such an understanding of Christianity.
In addition, the CCP's understanding of Christianity, plus U.S. and British-based Chinese Christian and closely linked factors. Choice in the early years of Mao Zedong as the ally of the Soviet Union, he in order to establish authority in the country, we must cut off the Chinese intellectual elite and the US-British ties. Because the knowledge of the mainland elite was a lot of people affected by Christianity, so Mao Zedong must be cut off the spread of Christianity, against Christianity. This is both historical causes and Mao's political considerations.
in: In my opinion, the political considerations of Mao Zedong's actually of concern to many of the current rulers. I In the survey, he would often hear some local party and government is to carry out religious work or the person in charge from time to time to show this concern. Christian evangelism in rural areas is now a major target, the village cadres and their families, or in the prestigious village elders, has been noticed. These influential people in the village on the Evolution of Belief will directly affect the management of grass-roots government. Vigorous development of rural churches, believers gradually increased, a broad space for development. With the increase in teaching staff believers gradually established in the country's prestige, faculty in the country's ability to further strengthen the organization and mobilization. Some local rural churches gradually replace the original village of some social functions of the management system of township and village levels has been further weakened.
Yulin area in Shaanxi
my investigation discovered that some of the village party branch, in order to maintain this influence, had joined the church organization. Local Religious Affairs Bureau in Henan have the leadership that the Christian so to develop, although the state and the nation will not produce great harm, but will affect the safety of the Communist Party's ruling, because the political forces abroad would boost domestic religious freedom by the Christian, for political subversion. How do you view this issue?
Iraq: First, if the future generation of Chinese social unrest for various reasons, the real steady state of Chinese society to maintain the most powerful force must be the Chinese Christian Church. Christ is the natural power of sound and conservative forces. Christian faith and secular emphasis is social and political alienation, stressed to maintain a distance, do not stress too much the church to participate in secular society, not to interfere with the secular use of church politics.
far as I know, the current foreign funding of Christian, there are three aspects: (1) money; (2) presented the those who assisted Bible study materials. From the current situation, there is a large-scale foreign-funded phase, but this phase has largely passed.
add that, as urbanization, are the backbone of the church went to work in cities, rural church that will shrink the church to work in cities will rise. Although some foreign political forces are trying to reason with a belief that to interfere in China's politics, but since Christianity is the true advocate of secularism, opposed intervention in the political reality the church, so this concern should not be too strong basis in reality. In this sense, the Government should be concerned about the implementation of the policy of freedom of belief, not on the grounds of the so-called political subversion as an excuse for the implementation of restrictions on freedom of religion.
in: According to my survey, rural churches obey the government in administrative management, strict compliance with the requirements of the Government, if not to the young missionary, missionary, etc. do not cross; in faith have full autonomy, such as the Church within the teaching staff of the election, according to religious custom events and sermons entirely faithful to master. But also found that However, some of China's current organizational structure of the Christian Council of China and governance are some of the characteristics of traditional secret society, and some even develop into a cult. Their development will not impact on social stability it?
Iraq: The situation of the specific historical stage in the past, to a certain extent, exist. But we also see that, at present, the team type of the Church, that type of secret society like the church folk as China's urbanization process has slowly disintegrated and the dead. And with the Church more and more training to do,
However, we should also remind those in power pay attention, do not put a number of new religions as a cult to give blow. In my opinion, the cult and the government needs to distinguish the Christian heresy. Cult to determine the three criteria are: 1, not to Christ as Savior, salvation does not recognize Christ, and by the leader of personal salvation, believe people do not believe in God; 2, a strict system of secret organization, strict control over the behavior of Christ Acts of personal freedom; 3, emphasizing the theoretical end of the world to promote the upcoming end of the world, only the letter of the leader to be saved. Satisfy these three conditions is a cult. Otherwise, should be regarded as heresy. Cult with the underworld are often characteristic, and often heterodox doctrinal issues. It is stressed that the so-called Christian cult heresy and official distinction. Christian Church and cult are essentially different, not the cult as a Christian.
To prevent heresy, must focus on two issues - one is a pure question doctrine, doctrine must be clear, otherwise they can not prevent the cult, heresy generation; the second is the governance of the church, the church's internal structure to improve To meet the In order to prevent some of the Chinese tradition, such as centralized, paternalistic, penetration of the church worship leader, and finally by the name of the church affect the entire community, so we have doubts and delusions of the church.
need to emphasize that the tradition is China's own tradition, not the Christian tradition. This process is now underway, the team model is slowly dying. Also, I heard that foreign churches, as before, the support of the team-based church, will only make the team more and more the shortcomings of the church modes, because the mother the money, you can control subordinates, so they have to change the team Church of the funding formula model. For example,
air force 1 shoes, some churches built in the Mainland, the mother will be the church, the dedication of the church must hand over the mother would be the responsible person will be designated by the parent. Now make their own arrangements by local, independent, self-a. Team mode is broken, is converted to local churches mode.
local church is the most successful model of Wenzhou diocese, because it emphasizes independence.
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