Intolerance in action: Group: Officials destroying crosses, burning Bibles in China

[guillaumeb]

From the AP article:

China’s government is ratcheting up a crackdown on Christian congregations in Beijing and several provinces, destroying crosses, burning Bibles, shutting churches and ordering followers to sign papers renouncing their faith, according to pastors and a group that monitors religion in China.
The campaign corresponds with a drive to “Sinicize” religion by demanding loyalty to the officially atheist Communist Party and eliminating any challenge to its power over people’s lives....

“The international community should be alarmed and outraged for this blatant violation of freedom of religion and belief,” he wrote in an email.

To read more:

https://religionnews.com/2018/09/10/group-officials-destroying-crosses-burning-bibles-in-china/

[MineralMan]

1. China has never really been friendly to Christianity.

The Christians always seem to want to change the culture of China to suit Christianity. Their reluctance to accept that western religion goes back a long, long way.

Here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_China
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Christian_Movement_(China)
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/cosmos/bgov/20th.htm

[guillaumeb]

2. Yes it does.

The current leadership in China well matches the earlier missionaries in intolerance.

[Igel]

3. How dare Xians want to change a culture.

[guillaumeb]

6. These are Chinese Christians.

Is persecution and intolerance acceptable in that instance?

[trotsky]

10. Way to miss the point. n/t

[MineralMan]

23. That is a very good question.

Why indeed?

[lunasun]

4. Would like to see a non religious news source report on this

[guillaumeb]

5. It is from an AP report,

and also appears at the Religion News site.

[lunasun]

11. I questioned it but yes see it is from AP . Why question it ? Because as the AP ends it there are 38

million plus and growing . It seems like as a group, Christians would be a large force for the government to attack
"China has an estimated 38 million Protestants, and experts have predicted that the country will have the world’s largest Christian population in a few decades."

[guillaumeb]

13. The Chinese Govermment is also attacking Muslims.

A power move to keep people loyal to the government only?

[lunasun]

17. CCP let religions flourish in the 90s yet never predicted the competition that is now booming

with citizens for where they look for guidance, and direction IMO

I know in the recent past as religions have grown there they were working on it's place in China such as banning all religion in public schools etc. .
I don't believe the party ever thought even the Buddhist revival there would explode as it has. What can they do now with over hundreds of millions of them out in the open- a giant group compared to the smaller Muslim and Christian populations ?

Some of the older people now going to the temples and the new churches were raised in the red book red guard 50s-60s era where they spent thier teens not in school getting a formal education , but sent for years marching to areas to remove among other things religious
( mostly Buddhist / Tao )symbols what they have seen in a lifetime!

[guillaumeb]

18. A reaction similar to what happened in Russia

after the implosion of the USSR.

Perhaps the governments in both countries misunderstood how deep the roots of belief are.

[guillaumeb]

7. Another source:

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/china-to-regulate-online-religious-activity-amid-crackdown-868184.html

[trotsky]

8. "demanding loyalty to the officially atheist Communist Party"

Demanding loyalty to what?

Atheism? Nope.

The Communist Party? Yep.

As usual, your lame attempt to equate the Chinese government's actions with atheism fall completely flat.

You keep trying though, and everyone else will keep laughing at you. I like that arrangement.

[guillaumeb]

9. So are they...

intolerant atheists who happen to be Communists?

Or are they intolerant Communists who happen to be atheists?


Or are they examples of people being intolerant?

[trotsky]

12. You know the answer to that, but you would rather push your agenda.

Creating whatever false equivalencies are necessary to do so.

You have proven beyond a doubt you are not interested in sincere dialog, so I will not even attempt to do so with you anymore.

[guillaumeb]

14. And do you also have an agenda?

Sorry, I forgot that we are not having a dialogue.

[trotsky]

15. I have admitted my agenda to you.

It's to point out that you are completely and utterly wrong in just about everything you say.

I'm proud of my agenda.

[guillaumeb]

16. That is quite an agenda.

But you said "just about". Does that mean that we agree on one thing?

[trotsky]

29. Of course we agree on some things.

But when you're wrong, you're dead wrong.

[WhiteTara]

19. The Chinese are keeping their boot heels on the necks

of Tibetans and Mongolians. Millions are imprisoned and tortured and demanded to give up their religions. The christians aren't special. The Chinese don't believe in religion. Remember?

[guillaumeb]

20. The leaders of the Chinese Government believe in power and money.

Anything that threatens either earns a violent response.

[WhiteTara]

21. Plus they virulently hate religion.

[guillaumeb]

22. I believe that they see religion as a competitor in the battle for hearts and minds.

A strategic hate, coupled perhaps with general intolerance.

[Major Nikon]

26. You think centuries of using religion to manipulate the Chinese might have something to do with it?

[Mariana]

24. Many countries do not guarantee freedom of religion

for their citizens and other residents. China is one of them.

What do you propose be done about it, Gil?

[guillaumeb]

31. Is this whataboutism?

Attempting to divert?

[Mariana]

36. What do you propose be done about it, Gil?

That sentence is a question, Gil. You can tell it's a question because at the end of it, you see one of these: ?

What do you propose be done?

[guillaumeb]

38. I was referring to your opening statement.

The one at the very top of your post in the small box.

It is an issue for the Chinese people to solve. The US Government will say nothing because the 1% do a lot of business with China.

[MineralMan]

25. A number of Muslin nations also

Don't tolerate organized Christian worship. Historically, some Christian nations made war against other religions. National, cultural and religious bigotry and intolerance are constants.

Deplorable, isn't it?

[guillaumeb]

32. Is this response whataboutism on your part?

[MineralMan]

39. Nope. It's just descriptive.

[guillaumeb]

40. Right. eom

[Eko]

27. How dare a government try to impose beliefs on people!

[keithbvadu2]

28. We have American Christians who destroy crosses - by burning

We have American Christians who destroy crosses - by burning

[guillaumeb]

33. True, but that is to show their white pride. eom

[Mariana]

37. Also their Christianity.

The Ku Klux Klan has always been explicitly a Christian organization.

[Act_of_Reparation]

30. Oh boy, I love sleight of hand!

Too bad you're not very good at it.

[guillaumeb]

34. How insightful.

Any comment on the actual issue of intolerance?

[Act_of_Reparation]

35. I'd be happy to.

If you find anyone interested in discussing this issue, please point me in their direction.