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State of Christianity in China

State of Christianity in China. by Kevin Murphy. Wenzhou Church in Sanjiang. “Jerusalem of the East” Planned demolition 12 years and 30 million yuan ($4.7 million) to build 1,000 members in arms Guarded by Military and Police Deal in place. Motivation. Crackdown on Christians?

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State of Christianity in China

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  1. State of Christianity in China by Kevin Murphy

  2. Wenzhou Church in Sanjiang • “Jerusalem of the East” • Planned demolition • 12 years and 30 million yuan($4.7 million) to build • 1,000 members in arms • Guarded by Military and Police • Deal in place

  3. Motivation • Crackdown on Christians? • Supposedly 10 more churches • Wenzhou and Hangzhou • Pick up in repression (55%) • Gov denies • Zhejiang Party Secretary Xia Baolong. “Too conspicuous.” • Churches are oversized • Wenzhou; ½ acre vs. 2 acres • Given a chance to “self rectify” • 5 local government officials being investigated.

  4. Background on Christians in China • The state only recognizes five official religions—Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism • 58 million Protestants 67 million total Christians according to Pew Research • in 1949 China’s Protestants numbered just 1 million persons and its entire Christian community was believed to be about 3 million

  5. Background on Christians in China • Many Catholics do not register. • Catholics aren’t allowed to pledge allegiance to any foreign figures, like the Pope. Haven’t been allowed to since 1951. • Large underground church system • Large amount of “house churches”. • the official Church which fears the house churches may provoke a backlash.

  6. The Future • China’s Protestant population will swell to 160 million in 2025. • China’s overall Christian population could reach 247 million people by 2030. • The official line in China is that the government pledges “to protect and respect religion until such time as religion itself will disappear.” • The State fears the influence of zealous American evangelism and some of the House Church theology has those characteristics, but, in many other respects, it seems to be an indigenous Chinese movement - charismatic, energetic and young. • Between 2006 and 2013, ChinaAid says persecution has become “55.23% worse.”

  7. Questions?

  8. Sources • Elgot, Jessica. "Fears Of Crackdown On Christians As China Demolishes Church." Thehuffingtonpost.co.uk. The Huffington Post UK, 28 Apr. 2014. Web. 01 May 2014. • Phillips, Tom. "China Accused of Anti-Christian Campaign as Church Demolition Begins." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 28 Apr. 2014. Web. 01 May 2014. • Bhattacharji, Preeti. "Religion in China." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, 16 May 2008. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. • Gardam, Tim. "Why Is Christianity Booming in China?" Bbc.com. BBC News, 11 Sept. 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. • Keck, Zachary. "Is Communist China Christianity's Future?" The Diplomat. Thediplomat.com, 26 Apr. 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014.

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