Christianity in China

Christianity is a religious minority in China.

• 5.1 The rural Christianity
• 5.2 The urban Christianity

• 7.1 Catholics and Protestants

Number of Christians

Currently, there are in the People's Republic of China, according to official figures some 19 million Christians, that would be 1.4% of the population; Several authors estimate that there are around 30 million or up to 80 million, which would be 2.2% to 5.9 % of the population. The evangelical Christian mission organization Asian Harvest, however, claims that 7.63% of the population are Christians in mainland China; that would be a higher proportion than in Taiwan, where 6.57 % of the population are Christians.

In China, European missionaries have been trying to proselytize two centuries with little success. After the European missionaries were expelled in the 1950s the country and after the religious life was strictly forbidden during the Cultural Revolution, Christianity in the last thirty years has taken a massive boost without substantial foreign assistance. Meanwhile, China has one of the largest Christian communities with more stable growth. So far, the rest of Christendom has not yet taken note of this extremely vibrant Chinese variant of Christianity much notice.

Official Status

Catholicism and Protestantism are considered in the People's Republic of China as an independent religions. There is little ecumenism. The Catholic and Protestant churches have little contact with each other.

The ecclesial situation is very complicated and depends on denomination, denomination and place or diocese. There is an increasing lack of transparency in the area of ​​so-called underground Catholic Church and the Protestant " house churches " with simultaneous emergence of vast gray areas between the "underground" and the officially recognized by the state churches. There is a very intense religious ( sacramental ) life and countless activities that are actually in any correspondence are for personnel and the financial resources of the church. In Chinese Christianity there is a vitality of Christian life, which is now the European Christians mostly foreign. The Christian doctrine is not very stable. There is still a theological ambiguity and uncertainty in the communities with the risk that entire communities of sects are recognized. There is a large irreconcilability between the groupings of churches, such as the official Catholic Church and the former underground Catholic Church.

Since March 1, 2005 statewide rules for Religious Affairs, which represent the behavior of the various communities to the state on a pragmatic level in many areas are in China for the first time.

History

The Christian mission has a very long history in China. However, it was until 1949, essentially a failure. Despite centuries of effort has been made in establishing the People's Republic of China in 1949, only about 1.8 million Christians, of which 750,000 Protestants, for many of the church members hope to benefit from the Europeans material, resonated.

The People's Republic of China was established under the Constitution, as a secular state. To the aim of establishing a classless society, but also included the elimination of the religions that characterized increasingly came under pressure. All foreign missionaries were expelled until the mid- 1950s, at the time about 6200th the churches in China contact with institutions and associations abroad was prohibited. During the so-called Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) the practice of religion was suppressed completely.

Under Deng Xiaoping, a new period of the opening ( since 1979), in which also the practice of religion was allowed again began. Since the mid- 80s in China there is a massive growth of religious communities. Scientists speak of a " religious fever " ( zongjiao re). Meanwhile, every year a million people come alone to the official Protestant Church in China newly added to the churches. Not only that Christianity is growing in China today, even Buddhism, Taoism and Islam. Christianity has, however, developed most rapidly in recent years.

Church organization

In China, there are five officially recognized religions: Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Taoism and Islam, each must have a so-called " Patriotic Association ". The patriotic associations ( " mass organizations ") of the churches that have emerged in the 50s, based on the Three-Self principles or autonomy already in the 30s of the 20th century by Chinese theologians formulated. These are: 1 self-preservation, that is, to be financially independent and not accept foreign aid. 2 self- proclamation, that is, to preach the gospel through indigenous forces. 3 self-government, that is, the church itself constantly in China to manage without foreign influence.

These associations include the state- required Protestant " Three-Self Patriotic Movement" and the " Patriotic Association of the Catholic Church," both of which were founded in 1951. Under the Articles, the Patriotic Associations are not responsible for direct religious sphere. Among Catholics there is for the Episcopal Conference, for the Protestants, this is the " China Christian ". The Patriotic associations to assist the churches in the material as well as the political sphere, but also control. The official organizations but even just limited to the communities influence. Each local church is also financially responsible for themselves. An influence of the state church organizations in the training of pastors and priests and in the provision of working materials. Religious officials are allowed to perform in the departments of religious affairs religious activities only after confirmation by the Religious organizations and the registry. So every preacher must be approved by a Three-Self Patriotic Movement.

In addition to this official church, there is a wide gray area of communities that tolerates partial, partially ignored, are also sometimes harassed. It depends on both the local authorities as well as to the respective communities, there are some very obscure sects to. The legal situation is very unclear, to date there is no law for religions. In any case, the majority of Chinese Christians belong to any of the two major official churches.

Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church is divided into the official Church and the former underground Church. Both churches have about 70 bishops. The structures of the official and the unofficial church are parallel, so that the dioceses are often occupied twice. Both organizations have not recognized by the Vatican Bishops' Conference. Most bishops of the official Catholic Church are now recognized and legitimized, and in a letter to Chinese Catholics in 2007, explained the Pope, that he wants a union of the two Catholic Church wing of China by the Pope, and that there will be no appointment of a bishop in the underground more. The responsibility for the appointment of bishops remains controversial. The Pope insists on his right to appoint bishops, the Chinese government is on the articles of the Constitution that no church can be controlled from abroad. It is aimed at a compromise.

Evangelical churches

Within the Protestant denomination is made between the churches of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, the assembly points in the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, semi-independent rural churches as well as the so-called house churches.

The churches of the Three - Self Patriotic Movement and their meeting points are officially recognized and registered with the government. Their religious meeting places are usually located in cities or in the vicinity thereof.

The semi-independent rural churches are only partially registered with the government, but not part of the Three - Self Patriotic Movement.

The so-called " house churches " arise from quite different reasons. Your services are not secret.

Other groupings

Between popular religion and Protestantism since the early 80s groups grow as the "doctrine of the Eastern Lightning ( Dongfangshandianjiao ) " or the " Apostle Community ( Mentuhui ) ". They are characterized by a charismatic leader and a complex and flexible organizational structure, salvation and deliverance teachings. Since the Ming Dynasty, they are regarded as an indicator of socio-economic instability and political unrest as the potential. They are considered by the Chinese government as a threat to stability. Again and again it comes to state repression, sometimes arrests.

Forms of Christianity in China

There are in China is very different forms of Christianity, is so often spoken of the various Christianities in China. Thus Christianity in rural areas and Christianity in the cities due to the different realities of life often fall apart. Especially in the countryside, there are charismatic, related to a single leader sects with the classical Christianity often widely divergent doctrines.

The rural Christianity

Representatives of the evangelical Christian Council estimate that at least half of the conversions in the rural areas of China back to stories or experiences with faith healing. For the rural poor are these healing stories in which a prayer of ordinary people was heard by God, against China in widespread attitude of fatalistic "mei banfa " because we can do nothing.

In the Chinese hinterland but also militant sects are active, which bring itself with Christian content in connection and try Christian churches to poach. These sects, such as " Lightning from the East", which proclaims that Jesus was born again in the form of a Chinese woman, are a serious problem for Christian communities.

The urban Christianity

In the cities, China's one hand there is the most vulnerable who seek help and moral support, on the other hand there are the so-called cultural Christians who usually join any community, but dealing with Christianity and identify with essential messages of Christianity. In 2001, the University conducted in Beijing by a survey among the students. 3.6% of respondents declared they were Christians, 61.5 % of respondents said they its not Christians, but quite interested in Christianity. In the cities, and at the Universities of unregistered house churches or groups have been established to study the Bible in recent years. Party representatives see this circumstance as a challenge that must be carefully monitored.

Christianity and Chinese society

A major reason for the rapid growth of Christianity in China lies in the resolution of existing social structures and moral standards and the discrediting of traditional values ​​. Even communism as an old state ideology has become as meaningful force no longer relevant.

The churches are all religious groups of the party-state organs observed as suspicious. They are the state because of their attractive for the people of China Expectations, Hope and action potential suspect.

The Chinese religious scholar Gao Shining writes: " The Chinese have achieved amazing material progress in the modernization process. But the rapid social change has destroyed the original systems of morality and values ​​standards were lost. People were shaken in their faith. It broke out of a moral crisis that had slumbered long latent in Chinese society .... Corruption and the absence of even minimally strong sense of community have become common phenomena in China. "

Even for Dr. Li Pingye of the National United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China is the main reason for the rise of Christianity in China in the social upheavals: "China is currently in a huge upheaval. The reform of the economic and political system has led to painful phenomena; an increase in unemployment, a strong urban-rural gradient, an ever-widening disparity between the wealth gap ... and a landslide Wegbruch moral standards. "

The massive social changes of the past 30 years, followed the previous shocks China by the Cultural Revolution, which destroyed the previous values ​​after forces. The poet Shu Ting wrote in 1980, shortly after the end of the Cultural Revolution: " ... nothing remained in my back as a field of ruins. "

Family relationships are at the heart of Chinese culture. But unfortunately, every political and social change has had a negative impact in the modern Chinese history to the families. The theologian Chen Xida shows the example of the Bible parable of the prodigal son ( Luke ) as Christianity is precisely the social stumbling appeals that are more marginalized in the Chinese tradition. The Luke story paints a picture of a father who challenges the traditional Chinese father model in which a father disciplining his children, lead to success and must get them to glorify his name and all ancestors. This failure is a flaw in traditional family patterns, because of this, many people are ashamed and do not dare to go home. The stands in the parable of the prodigal son over a family picture in which everyone can return to again and is welcome.

Each year that the Catholic Church on May 24, on the World Day of Prayer for China. This special day of prayer, Pope Benedict XVI. aware on the day of the traditional pilgrimage to Sheshan, the largest Marian shrine in China near Shanghai, placed.

Chinese terms for God and Christianity

The terms used for God in Chinese, are different even within Christianity. When the first missionaries arrived during the Tang dynasty in China, they spoke of their religion as Jǐng Jiao (景教, literally " clear teaching "). Some others spoke of Shangdi (上帝, literally: " the ruler of the above " ), as this was more rooted in the Chinese language. ( "Lord of Heaven"天主, literally) to use, at least in official worship and texts Finally, however, the Catholic Church decided to Confucian term Tianzhu. When the Protestants in the 19th century finally came to China, they preferred Shangdi against Tianzhu. Many Protestants use the title Shen (神), which generally means " god" or "spirit." Catholic priests are called shen fu (神父, literally, " spiritual father " ) referred. The now familiar high-Chinese translation of " Christ", which is used by almost all Christians is Jidu (基督).

Catholics and Protestants

The modern Chinese language divided Christians generally fall into two groups: the followers of Catholicism Tianzhu jiao (天主教), and the followers of Jidu jiao (基督教) - literally " the Christianity " - or Jidu Xinjiao (基督 新教), " New Religion " Protestantism. Chinese see Catholicism and Protestantism as different religions, although this distinction is not made in the western world. In the western world, the term " Christianity " summarizes all denominations, in Chinese, however, there is no term that makes this possible. In today's Catholic literature, the term Jidu zongjiao (基督 宗教) is used for Christian sects. The term literally means " religion of Christ." The Eastern Orthodox churches are Dongzheng jiao (东正教) called, which is the literal translation of " Eastern Orthodox religion" into Chinese.